In memory of Les Murray

I was saddened to hear of the death of the Australian poet Les Murray yesterday. In the autumn of 1997, … More

The Year of Living Deeply 11: In the taxi with Twyla Tharp

I have been thinking a lot about habits recently. The unconscious, unthinking ones which, as Sylvia Plath said about words, … More

I have just started reading Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit: Learn it and use it for life. Like those other classics … More

after Shawna Lemay Write a poem about the rain. Or the wind. Write about what you learned at university. … More

It isn’t often that you read something that you know as soon as you read it has the capacity to … More

Having left FB a week or two ago and quickly decided before I could persuade myself to do otherwise to … More

I always think of myself as working at a rock face. Ninety days out of ninety five, it’s just a … More

I am not sure how this is going to turn out. It was something somebody said in response to my … More

‘What’s up?’ says the book. ‘It’s nothing. Really. I’m fine,’ I say. ‘For a person with their head in their … More

‘Are you afraid?’ says the book. ‘What are you talking about?’ ‘Are you?’ ‘Have I upset you in some way?’ … More

‘Happy new year,’ says the book. ’And to you, too,’ I say. ’You all right?’ says the book. ’Fine,’ I … More

(After Andy Brown) Because my children are briefly sleeping under the same roof Becuase Col and Lucy and M and … More

‘Good Christmas?’ I say. ’Fairytale,’ the book says. ‘Grimm.’ ’Are you here all week?’ ’Unlike some of us.’ ’It was … More

‘So I was thinking,’ the book says. ‘Going anywhere nice for Christmas?’ ’Do you want a lift somewhere?’ I say. … More

Here are my most frequently-read blog posts of 2018, according to my WordPress stats. First, from the Lifesaving Poems … More

‘What have you learned, do you think?’ the book says. ‘Do you mind, I’m trying to have a bath!’ ‘Now … More

I am delighted to be publishing Deck Shoes, a book of enthusiasms, influences and memoir, with Impress Books, next year. … More

After what feels like a very long wait since the publication of Riddance in 2012, I am delighted to be publishing … More