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This is how it happened. I went to a rugby match in Bath and took a shortcut across a grassy bank. My left foot slid down the slope and my body fell back on my ankle. Snap, fibula fractured in two places. We went to A&E. The nurse asked questions about allergies. Then said: “On […]

Have you ever entered a poetry competition? If you are a closet poet it’s a great way to test yourself. Winning poems have a few things in common. The poem should have a cracking opening. You want the judge’s attention straight away. The second is that the last lines should make the judge hold her

I was in the House of Commons recently for the launch of the “Ovarian Cancer Awareness” programme. So how does a male poet get involved with that, you might ask? Well, I have five sisters, four daughters, one wife and many female friends who are precious to me. Ovarian cancer is a silent killer, mostly

I was in Chicago several years ago on St. Patrick’s Day. Everyone wore green and spoke in silly Irish accents. Even the river was dyed green. It was a hoot all day. That evening I found an Irish pub and asked for a pint of Guinness. “Where are you from?” asked the barman. “Dublin,” I

Have you ever seen a poetry film? It’s a modern way of linking both media and it’s certainly to the advantage of poetry. Anything that makes poetry more accessible works for me. The film I would like to share with you is called “Rocket Tom.”  The background is that I bought a black Labrador from

I am preparing for an annual poetry reading in Liddington. This year I have four young people as side-kicks. They chose poems that suit their personalities and I have to tell you that rehearsals have been a hoot. It’s one thing reading but if you want to get real satisfaction from a poem you have