I have two poems on the sun-drenched Odyssey poetry website today: one new one, part of a sequence responding to the life and work of Edward Burra; and one from my collection.
Author: Matthew Paul
New reviews on Sphinx
There is a new batch of reviews up on Sphinx, among which are no less than three excellent reviews of Richie McCaffery’s new pamphlet, First Hare, and my review of Ben Ray's New Poets’ Prize-winning pamphlet, The Kindness of the Eel. As ever, Sphinx is a tremendous resource for anyone looking for new poetry pamphlets.
Some summer haiku
Here are some of my summer haiku from over the years: summer sales a Caravaggio chalked on the kerb * heat haze a tangerine milk float jumping the lights * summer fete the Punch and Judy man losing his voices * school’s out the riverbank flush with tansy florets * behind the long pebble… Continue reading Some summer haiku
Interview with Heather Moulson
Over on her entertaining blog, Heather Moulson has afforded me the honour of interviewing me, in her inimitable fashion. A word about Heather and her poetry: many times in the last few years, I’ve been fortunate to see and hear Heather read, often from memory, her poems about life in the 1970s ; they are… Continue reading Interview with Heather Moulson
When All This is Over again
Some distinguished contributors, notably Julie Mellor, have already reflected, via blogs and other social media, on the Calder Valley Poetry anthology, When All This is Over, conceived by John Foggin. Here are some further thoughts of my own. I’ve said previously that it was a brilliantly simple idea, to ask poets to respond to Eiléan… Continue reading When All This is Over again
Tips from StAnza poets
Some excellent advice here, re-blogged from the Ways With Words site of Wells Poets. Jen Hadfield’s film-poem is a must-watch.
Find them here. The first two are sound only, while the others are short films.
John Glenday advises, “Write less”. A poem is a conversation between poet and reader: leave room for the reader. If you listen to nothing else, please listen to these three and a half minutes!
Shehzar Doja: “Always carry a small notebook”. I can think of no better advice.
Gerry Cambridge remembers George Mackay Brown’s advice to practice writing in strict forms. Craftsmanship, Gerry says, leads to confidence – enjoy the process – don’t be afraid of making a mess – read widely; other poets are your signposts.
Anthony Anaxagorou too recommends keeping a notebook. And imagining impossibilities. And borrowing a line from another poet (but be sure to give it back!)
Jen Hadfield, in her beautiful film-poem, pleads for a balance between words and silence. Well worth a few minutes of your precious…
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On gratitude to certain publishers
You may wonder if I haven’t got better things to do than write this post, but I have a bugbear to get off my chest. In these days of trouble, when so many people are being laid off and when the economy looks set to tank even further, we all have to make financial choices… Continue reading On gratitude to certain publishers
Poetry in Surrey Libraries
My thanks to Neil Richards for posting a poem of mine on the Poetry in Surrey Libraries website. It’s a response of sorts to Liz Berry’s poem ‘5th Dudley Girl Guides’, from her collection Black Country. Amongst other recent posts are excellent poems by Write Out Loud Woking co-hosts Greg Freeman and Rodney Wood.
Fokkina McDonnell’s blog
I’m delighted that Fokkina McDonnell has featured four poems of mine on her excellent blog. There is a lot of good stuff among Fokkina’s previous posts, not least her own wonderful poems.
John Foggin’s ‘When All This is Over’ project
Over on his ever-excellent blog, John Foggin recently revealed the names of the poets behind the 26 ‘When All This is Over’ poems chosen, out of 80 or so which were submitted, for publication in a Calder Valley Poetry pamphlet. Like many great ideas, this project has a perfect simplicity to it, and it has… Continue reading John Foggin’s ‘When All This is Over’ project
