We are living in a post-truth world where everything is what you make itno one will tell you you are right or wrong:but everyone willchoose sidesopt for this or that camp; over alldeny what's going on around, above, below, beside, beneath them;only listen to the wind,it knows the answer,as the permafrost is plundered for its oil reserves the... Continue Reading →
My Love comes through
As snow falls silent through a sullen greysky, without a wisp of winter sunI only hope my love comes through today. The timetable must bring either dismayor hope - will loneliness or funwin out, this gentle January day? The robin on the railings does not playbut seeks succour and warmth, alone like onewho only hopes... Continue Reading →
Time Laps – A Sonnet
Time laps the shore of life, ripcurled, the tidewhich pulls us under, washing over allthe sand, the land, the space, the race, the rideand never fails to stand, nor make us fall. We falter at the changes time brings on,uncomprehend the lines etched on our skin;the seasons dance their round, and we bemoanthe boundaries we're... Continue Reading →
On The Darkest Day…
I hold you close beside me, from a distance; light a candle for the lost and found;let sorrows ebb and flow, show no resistance let silence speak the plummet of the sound. I say a prayer for those without directionand set my compass to poetic north;whisper, beneath my breath, a benediction for the New Year, and all it... Continue Reading →
‘Anthropocene Dreaming’ published in Gleam
Earlier this year, I experimented with a rhymed cadralor. This idea has interested me for a while, as I wasn't sure it could be done successfully, especially with the contextual dissonance required between stanzas. However, I sent it off to the editorial board at Gleam - Journal of the Cadralor, and they said "yes"! Thanks... Continue Reading →
Crossing and Recrossing the Tyne
With just one week to go until the launch of my new poetry pamphlet, To Catch a Poem, I would like to dedicate this final reading to my partner, in life and in rhyme, Nick Reeves, without whom there would be no EIF. Thank you for believing in me from the very beginning, Nick! https://youtu.be/3PD0mvjLX9g... Continue Reading →
COP 28 (The Sultan’s Got His Hat On)
The Sultan's got his hat on,(Hip-hip-hip, hooray!)his presidential hat onat the conference today And we've all got the gas onthat's how it's going to stayit's freezing here, but have no fearthe heat is on its way... If all developed nationscan have their wicked waythey'll get the poorer nations hooked on oil and gas - hooray! There's... Continue Reading →
And this year’s Pushcart nominees are…
... Drumroll... Nick Reeves, for his poems “On Framwellgate Bridge In Late December;” “I Whispered;” and “Sonnet (Bus To Dungeon Ghyll),” from the collection Archery in the UK (EIF, February 2023) and Marlene Lee, for her short story "Virgie" from the collection Inner Passage (EIF, October 2023). Congratulations and best of luck to both nominees!... Continue Reading →
Like Fire
Like fireLike flame Like waterLike breathing Like faithLike hopeLikeSomething to believe in Like ashLike rubbleLikeRuins of a city Like slaughter Like laughterLikeDrowning, absolutely Cease fireCease firePleaseEvacuate civilians This ireLike fireHas alreadyMurdered millions
The Howling
The children to feed;all the bills still to payand the howling. The emails to answerthe things I should sayand the howling. "Remember tomorrowforget yesterday"says the howling: "You carry such sorrow?Then give it awayto the howling." Wind, sound, surrenderthe trees' dreadful swayto the howling Whisper, "Wake with the soundof a pure poetry"called the howling. With thanks... Continue Reading →