I’m enjoying Ted Hughes Letters and can see it going on well into 2013. Other reading matter that has crept into the bedroom includes The Songlines by Bruce Chatwin, which I’m reading for my book group but actually it’s been on my bookshelf for some years. I went through an Australian thing a while back,Read more ⟶
Month: December 2012
‘Wordsworth’s Skates’ by Seamus Heaney
A wonderful little poem by Seamus Heaney. Seemed right for the season. ‘Wordsworth’s Skates’ from District & Circle (Faber & Faber, 2006). Happy Christmas.
Holiday reading part 1: Ted & Sylvia
Christmas. I wish I could play up to the seasonal stereotype of the busy ‘mum’ with a house full of over-excited children and the prospect of hoards of rellies to cook for and entertain. I don’t even have to search the internet for ’10 top things to do with left over turkey’ or whatever –Read more ⟶
My recent poetry unsuccesses
True to my pledge to blog the UNsuccesses as well as the successes, here’s the latest news. Firstly Magma – I’ve submitted there a couple of times previously and on both occasions was rejected pretty quickly. This sets a precendent – you assume that if you don’t hear quickly, that your poem is likely toRead more ⟶
Poetry reading on January 17th
The workshopping group that I go to in Brighton is holding an event, Ten Voice Stanza, on Thursday 17th January. If you are anywhere in the vicinity, please come – and tell your friends! There are ten of us reading and we each have a maximum of 8 minutes, to allow some time for openRead more ⟶
New poem by Harry Man
Earlier this year I was on a Poetry School course in Lambeth and met Harry Man. I really liked his work and I think he and I were two of only four participants who completed the course (out of about 15). I came across Harry’s name again recently and had a snoop around the internet,Read more ⟶
Brendan Cleary workshop – drafting poems
Yesterday I was in Brighton at the Pub with No Name (which is incidentally in an area with a pub on each street corner as well as halfway down each street, so not having a name is pretty cocky) for an all-day workshop with legendary Irish poet Brendan Cleary. (Brendan is editor of the recently relaunchedRead more ⟶
First poetry reading group – Ní Chuilleanáin, Feaver, Wilkinson
There’s nothing quite like reading poetry to stimulate writing – something it took me many years to discover. So I was very pleased when Brighton Stanza member Miriam Patrick proposed a new monthly group devoted to reading poetry. Our first meeting was last night – we were a small but perfectly formed group! The formatRead more ⟶