Author: Paul

The Book Bag: Concealed Pockets – Reflections on The Weekend’s Open Mic

So on Sunday (7th September) I attended an open mic via zoom held by Black Bough Poetry. They are always excellent events and Biok Bag alumni Matthew MC Smith is always excellent on hosting duties. This time he was joined by the fabulous Polly Oliver as co-host and this was possibly one of the best Black Bough zoom open mic’s I’ve attended.

There were over 20 international poets all with various styles, subjects and voices giving the night a special feeling of anticipation as to what would come next. I read Who We Are in the encore section, my most confident reading of this piece so far. But enough about me…

Every poet brought something different and I was hypnotised by some, brought to tears by one poet, some debuts which were excellent also.

Here’s a recap of some of my favourite performances and why…

First off, I’ll mention Evie Carlyn, reading an important piece recently featured in the prestigious Madrid Review. It entranced the room and was delivered perfectly- both in pitch and pace.

Paul Connolly, who I’ve connected with over on BlueSky, has a theatrical performance style that really lent itself to the poems he read. His diction and intonation led me to make a request he read the entire Lord of The Rings trilogy on audiobook for me.

Rob McKain who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and hearing live in Neath 2024. His voice carried every bit of emotion in the poem he recited, the sorrowful quality was deepened by his immense accent. If he and Paul Connolly were to record a radio play it would be a phenomenal success.

Photo Credit: Matthew MC Smith

I was very impressed by Elizabeth Fevyer making her open mic debut. Her pitch and pace and choice of work was tremendous and there were no signs of nerves. I’m looking forward to hearing her read more.

Lauren Parker is a terrific performance poet. She has a real understanding of rhythm and flow, when to change tone and pace. It helps that her poems are always class and suit her conversational style.

Victoria Spires’ open mic and performance confidence continues to improve and impress. Vic is in the next wave of Iamb and when you get the chance, hear her read. Her poetry is prize-winning and of excellent quality. Also buy Soi-Meme.

It was a treat to hear Martin Kennedy Yates reading from his new book, (I’m looking forward to it arriving). His voice carries so much emotion making his reading mesmerising. Martins new book, This Wilderness and Other Concerns, will be making an appearance in The Book Bag soon…

At one point, I had to turn my camera off because Louise Longson read such a beautiful piece written for her friend Nick that I cried. I felt every single word and emotion. It reminded me of my Uncle.

Sarah Raybould’s poetry is top notch. As is her reading style, very composed and deliberate in her reading. I really enjoyed hearing her read and look forward to hearing more of her reading.

Daniel Hinds has a wonderful accent. He is from the North East after all. He read some of his poetry from New Famous Phrases and he always sounds so good. A pro.

Wren Wood is an impeccable performer. I really appreciated the movement and tone shifts which can be hard to portray on a zoom open mic. Exceptional poems too.

Barnaby Harsent read extremely well. But he always does. Poised and precise in his delivery that draws you in. Catch him on Iamb too.

I could go on and on because I enjoyed every single reading for different reasons. But these are the thoughts I’m having today.

A lot of readers are on the Iamb platform spearheaded by the excellent Mark Anthony Owen whose performances too were top class. His poems carry an economy of language that when combined with his tone gives real gravitas.

If you liked this quick piece let me know and I may do another at the next open mic I attend. Maybe in the future I might host one too?

Let me know your thoughts.

If you want to hear me read with a stellar line up to launch Chris Campbell’s new collection on Friday visit Parlyaree Press here for zoom tickets

Stay Poetic,

Paul.

The Book Bag X Write Here, Right Now: Unwhispered Legacy Anthology

Welcome to The Unwhispered Legacy Anthology page.

If you’re visiting this page, I hope you’re considering submitting to the inaugural poetry anthology from The Book Bag X Write Here Right Now.

All the details can be found below including submission guidelines and the why behind the project.

The Concept

Unwhispered Legacy is an idea born out of the Write Here, Right Now writing group which I set up to bring poets together and and my regular blog The Book Bag, that provides a platform for emerging and established poets.

I thought wouldn’t it be great to create an anthology that showcased some of the best poetry out there and give an opportunity to poets to submit for free and potentially be nominated for awards. So here we are. Unwhispered Legacy will be a theme-free anthology published in PDF format released on the 2nd March 2026.

This will be a free anthology available via The Book Bag, with all contributors being provided a copy. I will also be setting up a charitable donation link when the anthology goes live should people wish to donate to charity.

So lets get into the important bits and pieces.

Submission Guidelines

There is no theme or style preference but it may be worthwhile to be familiar with The Book Bag and The Book Bag: Poetic Voices, my blog that features emerging and established poets including Pascale Petit, Rishi Dastidar, Rhian Elizabeth, Carson Wolfe, Rebecca Goss and more.

Please see submission guidelines below:

The submission window is for 48 hours, opening on Sunday November 30th at 00:00 (GMT) closing at 00:00 (GMT) on 2nd December 2025.

****A Special Window has opened from 8am Sunday 14th December 2025 until Wednesday 17th December 2025, 9pm (GMT)***

You may submit up to 2 unpublished poems of your own work (poems shared on social media are acceptable). These should be sent as an attachment via email in doc. or docx format with a separate document per poem with the following naming convention: Your Name – Poem Title (e.g. Ann Example – A Poem).

Please also send a short bio of 50 words or less.

In the subject field of the email use Unwhispered Legacy Submission + No. Of Poems.

The submission email address is: thebookbagsubmissions@gmail.com.

All poems should be in Garamond font size 11, with left alignment unless specifically shaped for the purpose of the piece. Poems should not exceed 30 lines or 200 words.

On occasion, editorial suggestions may be made.

Please do not submit work that contains extreme graphic depictions of violence of any kind.

The Book Bag is an inclusive platform therefore any pieces containing bigotry, hate or discrimination of any kind will not be accepted.

No plagiarism / ai poetry please.

You will be notified of acceptance no later than 31st January 2026.

This is not a paid opportunity, however poems will be considered for nominations to the Pushcart, Best Of The Net & Forward prizes.

All decisions are final. 


Copyright remains with you.

If your work is printed elsewhere following publication, a mention would be greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions please drop me a message on social media.

I can’t wait to read your pieces. Send me your best.

Stay Poetic,
Paul

The Book Bag: Maybe I’ll Call Gillian Anderson by Rhian Elizabeth

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.

Welcome back to The Book Bag! What a couple of weeks. Let’s start with writing – The Book Bag: Poetic Voice for September was revealed and I’m so happy to be featuring Pascale Petit who has been incredible to communicate with.

I’ve sent several submissions out for different things. Been to a couple of open mics. I also had the August meeting of Write Here, Right Now. Maybe you saw the news on Instagram of an exciting forthcoming opportunity. I’m super happy to be creating an anthology of poetry and am looking forward to reviewing the submissions when they come in.

Away from writing, I’ve been jamming on my saxophone, met up with my mates for the first time in a long time for football, food and a few drinks which was a great laugh. Also my wife and I have signed up for our first allotment and have been busy digging out weeds and preparing for winter sowing. My body ached after day one from shearing down thistles. I’m looking forward to reading collections on the small patio area once it’s complete.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Maybe I’ll Call Gillian Anderson

  • Poet: Rhian Elizabeth
  • Press: Broken Sleep Books


I’ve read some of Rhian’s work online prior to reading Maybe I’ll Call Gillian Anderson and had heard excellent things about the book. I also saw Rhian standing up for what’s right by withdrawing from the Polari Prize. So without further ado, let’s jump back into The Book Bag…

One of Rhian’s key strengths is her honesty and humour in her poetry. The poem ‘To The Girl Who Said I’ll Never Be Happy Because I’m Too Picky’ is unflinching, smart and hilarious. I completely agree with the first couplet following the opening. The opening poem ‘Maybe I’ll Call Gillian Anderson’ swings from tragedy to laugh out loud funny to sad in quick succession.

A theme within the book is relationships. Whether familial, romantic, friendship or otherwise, Rhian is explicit and unapologetic when discussing these. ‘Glasgow’ is an excellent piece that feels relatable, starting in the confines of a kitchen then expanding outward. ‘Boxing Day Night And My Daughter Drives Us Back In The Fog’ is an emotive piece about the change in status between mother and daughter with an ending that feels triumphant without cliché.

There’s also a dark side to this theme. ‘The Photograph & The Man Who Took It’ made me rage and I had to stop reading and take the dog out to calm down.

There are some excellent pieces on introspection. ‘Camden’ (one of my favourites) is letter littered with stream of consciousness and imagery. ‘Mona Lisa Mona Lisa’ is another perfect example but through a different lens.

Throughout the book, Rhian plays with styles and space. ‘Drowning on a Strangers Couch’ has a wonderful prose feel is completely different to ‘Sea Glass’ which plays with space, (another of my favourites).

This book will appeal to poetry fans of uncompromising, unflinching raw poetry that is filled with humour. If you like your poetry to have an emotional connection that makes you feel it in your bones, you will love this book. I love it for all of those reasons and more, a unique, authentic, captivating collection.

To buy, Maybe I’ll Call Gillian Anderson, click here.

Favourite Poem:
I’ve already mentioned a couple in ‘Sea Glass’ and ‘Camden’ so I’ll add another three into the mix although I could choose a ton more. ‘Ribbons’, ‘Cry Like A Bitch’ and ‘Amsterdam’ are what I’ll go for today.

Oh, you didn’t think I’d forget the playlist did you…

Catatonia – Mulder and Scully
Bananarama – Venus
Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes
Rachel Stamp – My Sweet Rose
Barbara Streisand – The Way We Were
Blur – Coffee and TV
Schubert – Ave Maria, Op 52 No. 6 D.839
Blondie – Call Me
Hal feat. Gillan Anderson – Extremis
Mark Snow – The X-Files Theme

Before I Go…

On Friday 12th September 2025, Chris Campbell is launching his latest collection from Parlyaree Press, ‘Why I Wear My Past To Work’. I have been asked to read at the launch, which I’m incredibly grateful for. If you want to see Chris launch his book and hear some of the work from its pages as well as a excellent lineup of other poets, check the Parlyaree Press website here.

One More Thing…

The Broken Spine have opened submissions for their latest slimline anthology. You can submit poems for Verdigris until the end of September. Send your best work. Full details here.

And Another…

If you’re looking to read stunning poetry and view exceptional artwork, look no further than Biophilia from The Winged Moon. Find it here.

And Finally…

It’s great to be back! I’m looking forward to sharing lots more amazing pamphlets and collections with you and the concealed pockets will be opened to share a few different things.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Husband Material Volume 2: 27 Addresses
  • Poet: DL Husband

Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week.

Paul

The Book Bag: Poetic Voices – September 2025

Well here we are in September. And with a new month, comes a new Poetic Voice to feature as part of The Book Bag: Poetic Voices. This feature aims to platform and showcase exemplary work from writers I admire across the poetic landscape and runs concurrently with the regular weekly episodes of The Book Bag where I’ll still be sharing thoughts on pamphlets or collections I’ve read through the week.

And this month, I am amazed to announce the Poetic Voice is the exceptionally talented prize-winning poet, someone I’ve read since starting my poetry journey, Pascale Petit.

Credit: Derrick Kakembo

Pascale Petit was born in Paris and lives in Cornwall. She has published nine poetry collections, four of which were shortlisted for the TS Eliot Prize. Her ninth, Beast, published by Bloodaxe Books in 2025, is a Poetry Book Society Recommendation. Her eighth, Tiger Girl (Bloodaxe, 2020), was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best Collection, and for Wales Book of the Year. Her seventh, Mama Amazonica (Bloodaxe, 2017), won the RSL Ondaatje Prize and the inaugural Laurel Prize for eco-poetry and was the Poetry Book Society Choice. Her debut novel, My Hummingbird Father, was published by Salt in 2024.

This month, I am sharing the below piece from Pascale’s latest collection ‘Beast’, available here from Bloodaxe Books. This is ‘The Lammergeier Daughter’.

Beast Micro Book Bag Review

As part of this month’s feature, I’ve written a micro review of Pascale’s collection.

The collection explores a range of emotions and experiences through beasts in various environments and forms. With such range comes an expanse of vivid surreal imagery that lifts itself from the page. The book deals with trauma with defiance and resilience acting as counterpoints.

It should come as no surprise that the language throughout the collection is precise and rich. Form varies from prose in ‘The Tala Zone’ of the book to the use of space in ‘Ode To Causse Méjean With Takhi Horses’ to the couplet form in ‘Papa Guêpier’.

As well as ‘The Lammergeier Daughter’ other poems including ‘Butcherbirds’, ‘Swallows’, ‘Vial’, ‘Roebuck’ and ‘Pale-winged Trumpeters’ are among my favourites. I could list at least 10 more.

Beast is an exquisite collection and is in my top five books, I’ve read this year.

Regular readers will know that The Book Bag shares a playlist for the weekly entry, so I thought I’d add an eclectic one here also….
Charlie Parker – Koko
George Benson – Everything Must Change
Florence And The Machine – Dog Days Are Over
John Coltrane – Giant Steps
Louis Armstrong – Snake Rag
Stravinsky – The Rite Of Spring
Oliver Nelson – Ain’t A Thing
Johnny Cash – The Beast In Me
Kings Of Leon – Closer
Imagine Dragons- Radioactive

Stay Poetic,

Paul

The Book Bag: Welcome To The Museum of A Life by Sue Finch

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.

This week has been a busy one especially at work with the release of exam results. At home I’ve submitted a couple of pieces (got an acceptance which set me up for a great day on Thursday), worked on my own writing, enjoyed the sunshine and took a trip to an excellent charity bookshop. In the kitchen I made a chocolate and raspberry mousse which was delightfully light. Also, I brunched at Etto Gosforth (Sourdough French Toast with Maple and Bacon for me with a Latte) and welcomed back the Premier League Season and Fantasy Football.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Welcome To The Museum Of A Life

  • Poet: Sue Finch
  • Press: Black Eyes Publishing UK

First off, I’ll say I’m a fan of Sue Finch and we interact regularly on weekly prompts notably on TopTweetTuesday. Her shadow photos with dandelions as eyes are always good to see and uplifting.

Welcome To The Museum Of A Life is in sections as a gallery would be. Readers enter through the Foyer, exiting the collection via the Gift Shop as is proper in many museums. So without further ado, lets not get tangled in the entry gates and get on our way…

One of Sue’s main strengths in poetry is her ability to weave emotion and authenticity throughout her work. Poems including ‘Tuesday Night’ and ‘Silence’ display this incredibly well. I loved the poem ‘Peacock’ for its transition of emotion from amused observer to caring participant by the end. ‘When I am Gone’, one of the collection’s final pieces made me smile and tear up. ‘That Coin’ made me smile again and kept me smiling because of how purely and real falling in love is described.

Another skill that is showcased throughout is imagery. ‘My Hybrid Heart’, ‘When I Saw Jesus In A Tomato’ and ‘An Apple For My Mum’  are all prime examples of how to establish a scene that can feel so familiar and recognisable that you think this poem gets me and I get this poem.

Sue is deft at surrealist poetry too. The piece ‘I Hate You’ opens with an interaction between narrator and cow, a heron and an unknown bird. One of my favourite pieces ‘A Pelican Is Dancing On The Patio’ explores perception incredibly. ‘I’ve Nothing To Offer The White Horse In The Dream’ feels like a reckoning and I flinched on reading (I do have a slight fear of horses).

I’ve already discussed the book being divided into galleries. Another point to mention is that the galleries are varied in their themes and as in any good museum, a list of curated exhibits are introduced before you step in. Keep an eye out for the ‘Museum Of A Life: The Unexhibited’ which takes us behind the no entry signs to see what could be rotated in.

This curated collection will appeal to readers who enjoy their poetry underpinned by vivid imagery and honest emotion. Fans of surrealism and dreamscapes will enjoy this book. If you like visiting museums, you’ll love this book. I thoroughly enjoyed perusing the exhibits and my gift shop budget is too small to buy all the trinkets I’d like. Definitely one of the best museums I’ve visited.

To read more about Sue, click here or here which is Sue’s Silver Branch feature on Black Bough Poetry where you can read some of her work.

To buy Welcome To The  Museum Of A Life, click here.

Favourite Poem:

There are a few to choose from this week so I’ll go for seven! In no particular order, as I am writing I’ll go for; ‘A Pelican Is Dancing On The Patio’, ‘When I Am Gone’, ‘That Coin’, ‘Invitation’, ‘I Don’t Know’, ‘Digging That Hole’ and ‘Rescuing The Giraffe.

And finally, here’s an eclectic playlist nobody asked for, but everyone secretly wanted:

Museum of Light – Ralph Towner, Wolfgang Muthspiel & Slava Grigoryan
Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics
Museum – Donovan
National Gallery – Paul Weller
Andy Warhol – David Bowie
Mona Lisa’s & Mad Hatters – Elton John
Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
The Gallery – Joni Mitchell
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds – The Beatles
Pictures of Lily – The Who

Before I Go…

A few weeks in The Book Bag I mentioned that I had been asked to read some work at a launch. Well on 12th September that Launch is happening online for Chris Camplbell’s new book from Parlyaree Press ‘Why I Wear My Past To Work’. For more information and booking details, click here.

One More Thing…

Keep an eye out for another list of Rishi Dastidar’s hobbies being added to his feature in The Book Bag: Poetic Voices. Catch up here.

And Another…

Broke Spine continue to do good things on Bluesky. A new project they are launching on Wednesdays is for works in progress. Check their Bluesky for more details and to get involved.

And Another…

Wee Sparrow Poetry Press are hosting a free online haiku workshop with the President of The British Haiku Society Ilyana Stoyanova on September 7th between 5 & 7pm UK Time via zoom. Email theweesparrowpoetrypress@gmail.com to book.

And Finally…

Just a reminder that your weekly dive into The Book Bag will return on 7th September. September’s Poetic voice will still arrive on the 1st.

The First Read Upon Returning From My Break Is…

  • Title: Maybe I’ll Call Gillian Anderson
  • Poet: Rhian Elizabeth

Take it easy and stay poetic.

Paul

The Book Bag: Vanishing Point by Colin Bancroft

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.

What a week. I saw the Fantastic Four movie, followed by pizza with friends (I went for nduja and gorgonzola) where we saw England International and Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, an acceptance, a piece published as part of the Poetry of Witness project on Wednesday. Also, it was the launch of Beautiful Little Fools Anthology where I read my two pieces (was it too much wearing a velvet jacket and bow tie and sipping old-fashioned cocktails?) ‘Depraved New World’ and ‘The Flicker of Green’. Oh, I spent a bit of time on my writing too.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Vanishing Point

  • Poet: Colin Bancroft
  • Press: Broken Sleep Books

Vanishing Point opens strongly with vivid imagery and precise, rich language in the poem ‘Botanical Notes’. The strength of scene continues throughout the the book including in poems such as ‘Sitting On Rocks At Penveen Lighthouse’ and ‘Etal Castle’ (one of several locations in the collection I’ve been to).

Place plays an important part of the collection. Both its historical context tied to memory, heritage and culture but also how a place can act as a way marker to another place. This is how I interpreted the piece ‘Transverse Orientation’ with its listings of services. ‘Picking Raspberries at High Force’ (somewhere I’d recommend anyone visiting, because it is exquisite) is an excellent poem that shows the cycle of renewal of a place.

Many of the pieces hold an emotional weight. ‘Into The Distance’ and ‘Figuring It Out’ are two perfect examples of how to craft evocative poetry in contrasting ways. The poem ‘The Law’ is a layered piece that sparked a reaction both consciously and subconsciously and I made an audible ‘oooft’ when reading it.

There are powerful poems throughout. The final poem ‘Post Box On Corporation Street for Manchester’ is unflinching. ‘Thoughts On An Aftermath’ is a thought-provoking honest piece which had me considering my reaction. The piece ‘Tethered’ hit me hard.

Nature poetry is exceptionally crafted in Vanishing Point. Poems such as ‘Gauging The Flood’ , ‘Standing’ and ‘Life Study’ are all prime examples of writing the natural world without over-sentimentality or cliche. I also enjoyed the poem

Colin Bancroft uses form and style in various ways throughout. ‘John Clare’s Green Coat’ uses spacing expertly to convey the poem’s message, leaving room to breathe before continuing. Free verse is used but also forms including list and couplet such as ‘Frozen Pool in Hotburn Plantation’.

This book will appeal to lovers of eco-poetry, vivid imagery, emotional connection and a sense of place. The Northern landscape and cultural, industrial history referenced in Vanishing Point resonated deeply with me as I have stood in some of the same places and can immerse myself fully in the poetry and the landscape. It’s a book, I will keep going back to.

To buy Colin’s book, click here.

Favourite Poem:

I’m going to choose five here. In no order ‘The Law’, ‘HS2’, ‘Staithes’, ‘Capacity for Joy’ and ‘Night Horses’.

And here’s an eclectic playlist that I feel goes with the book that I’ve curated for your enjoyment;

Oasis – Champagne Supernova
Richard Ashcroft – A Song For the Lovers
Solis – Sunday
James – Sit Down
Lindisfarne – Run For Home
The Unthanks – Shipbuilding
Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill
Jimmy Nail – Big River
Seth Lakeman – The Colliers
Chris Rea – Curse Of The Traveller
New Order – Ceremony
Mr Scruff – Honeydew
Blossoms – Charlemagne

Before I Go…

Another page of Rishi Dastidar’s hobbies will be live on his feature from noon today, with another page of hobbies landing on 19th August. His feature can be found here. Catch up now.

One More Thing…

The Broken Spine has a ‘Cut To The Bone’ zoom workshop running on 24th August hosted by Alan Parry, details here. His workshops are always interactive and informative in a supportive environment and may be useful to all writers currently in the submission process.

And Finally…

Next week’s weekly entry in The Book Bag will be the last until September as I take a small summer break. I’ve already got exciting plans for the weekly entries from September with some more exciting poetry to share. I constantly update my social media channels with news so you can keep up to date there. You may even see me read a poem or 2.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Welcome To The Museum of A Life
  • Poet: Sue Finch

Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week.

Paul

The Book Bag: The Oasis by Charles Lang

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.

This week has been busy with editing, submissions, August’s Poetic Voice feature being launched, the remarkable Rishi Dastidar. I also had one of the loveliest rejection letters I’ve ever had (although I did make the shortlist for consideration which is an achievement in itself). At home we celebrated Brody’s 2nd Birthday – he enjoyed his salmon lunch! We also took a trip to Stanton Gardens and Nursery, Bide-A-Wee Garden near Morpeth and the tremendous Fieldhead Farm to pick wildflowers. We also had some time to relax and harvest the last of the new potatoes that we enjoyed with some tapas.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

The Oasis

  • Poet: Charles Lang
  • Press: Skein Press

I picked up my copy of The Oasis at the Len Pennie event at Jesmond Library a couple of weeks ago – the Poetry Book Society was selling several titles and I went for this – ( I have a connection to the city it’s based in. My maternal Grandfather and his family were originally from Glasgow where this is set). So let’s dive in, also the playlist has returned…

One of Charles Lang’s great strengths is his humour. The opening piece ‘The Chase’ had me reliving my youth, laughing at myself through the poem. ‘Stickers’ had me laughing too, such an authentic poem – I once completed a panini album apart from a handful of stickers in a hospital bed when I was about 12. The use of Glaswegian dialect reinforces the humour especially when reading out loud and realising that your Scot’s accent needs more work.

Glasgow is a city much like Newcastle; built on the backs of working-class families. A key theme throughout is that of strength of character and resilience in the face of challenges. ‘Glasgow Sonnets’, a sequence of sonnets paints the city with respect and authenticity. The collection’s title poem ‘The Oasis’ spotlights the sense of community which is present in the majority of working-class cities. Then in ‘Disturbia’ we are treated to the grit of a city at night.

A theme that’s explored terrifically well is masculinity, a subject that is multi-faceted especially against the backdrop of a working-class culture. Pieces including ‘Boys’ and ‘Darts’ showcase this greatly. Again, the use of dialect adds texture and dimensions to the poetry.

Imagery throughout the collection is vivid. In the poems ‘Spring’ and ‘Helen’s Bay’ familiar scenery unfolds quickly. ‘The Sabbath’ is a snapshot of a poem and is similar to a relaxing Sunday routine at The Book Bag HQ. ‘In Death of A Field’, I felt a pang of nostalgia for the ‘Rec’ me and my friends used to explore daily.

In terms of form and space, they are used in a variety of ways throughout the collection. ‘Thistles’ is a prime example, which takes over a number of pages. Much like a thistle patch taking over land. Another piece ‘A Mess’ is the same poem presented in three different ways, each with a different emphasis in the voice of the narrator.

This book will appeal to people who appreciate themes of identity, masculinity, belonging, class, city life and vivid imagery. For people who appreciate form and style, this book will appeal. For those who love dialect poetry, this will appeal. It sits comfortably in my top 10 from the year so far.

Favourite Poem:

I’ll stick to five this week but it could very well be the whole collection. ‘Lily’, ‘Nightclub’, ‘Scaffolding’, ‘The Oasis’ and ‘Birds’.

To learn more about Charles Lang, click here.

To buy The Oasis, click here.

And here’s a playlist nobody asked for but everyone really wanted;

Gerry Cinnamon – Belter
Amy MacDonald – This Is The Life
Lewis Capaldi – Wish You The Best
Chvrches – Over
Simple Minds – Don’t You
Travis – Flowers In The Window
Deacon Blue – Dignity
Texas – Black Eyed Boy
Primal Scream – Rocks

One More Thing…

There’s still tickets available for the launch of Beautiful Little Fools on Tuesday 5th August 2025. Grab them here.

And Another…

Last week I mentioned the new substack ‘We Are The Choir; Poetry of Witness’. This week one of my pieces will be featuring. ‘Non-Hazardous Product’ is a poem on the destruction of a river and the commodification of water.

And Another…

Full House Literary are open for Submissions from 1 August to 20th August 2025. Details here.

And Finally…

The Black Cat Poetry Press have a competition with the theme ‘Turning Points’ open until 30th September 2025. The brief is broad, more details here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Vanishing Point
  • Poet: Colin Bancroft

Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week.

Paul

The Book Bag: Poetic Voices – August 2025

Welcome to the second instalment of a new feature as part of The Book Bag. Poetic Voices will feature a different poet every month. This feature aims to platform and showcase exemplary work from writers I admire across the poetic landscape and will run concurrently with the regular weekly episodes of The Book Bag where I’ll still be sharing thoughts on books I’ve read in the week.

This month, I am delighted to share this writer’s work. Someone who I have enjoyed following since I began writing poetry (‘The Craft’ was one of the first books I read to help my style and approach), I am delighted to announce that the featured poetic voice for August 2025 is … Rishi Dastidar.

Credit: Naomi Woodis

Rishi Dastidar’s poetry has been published by the Financial Times, New Scientist and the BBC, amongst many others. His third collection, Neptune’s Projects (Nine Arches Press), was longlisted for the Laurel Prize, and a poem from it was included in The Forward Book of Poetry 2024. He is also editor of The Craft: A Guide to Making Poetry Happen in the 21st Century (Nine Arches Press), and co-editor of Too Young, Too Loud, Too Different: Poems from Malika’s Poetry Kitchen (Corsair). He reviews poetry for The Guardian and is chair of Wasafiri. His latest publication is A hobby of mine (Broken Sleep Books).

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing pages from Rishi’s latest book ‘A Hobby Of Mine’ available from Broken Sleep here. Our first instalment is from page 9.

The next instalment of Rishi’s hobbies will be added on August 10th 2025.

Here we are as promised, taking in some more of Rishi’s hobbies from his book A Hobby Of Mine. You can find more on Rishi at his website here which includes links to his socials including Instagram, which is consistently great to follow. Without further ado….

So here I am a day late (due to technical issues) to share a third list of Rishi’s hobbies as part of this months Poetic Voice from his latest collection ‘A Hobby Of Mine’ available from Broken Sleep here. This list comes from page 37.

I have laughed so hard at some of these hobbies that ‘a hobby of mine’ is reading Rishi’s book and pointing out similar hobbies! Thanks Rishi!

Take it Easy and Stay Poetic,

Paul

The Book Bag: Black Skies Die Starless by Jamie Woods

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.

I’ve had a slower week this week. Shared a video of me reading one of my poems on social media, visited the Northern Poetry Library on Monday, sent some submissions off and spent some time on my my own writing. On Saturday evening I was able to see some incredible poetry at Louis Longson’s last Saturday of the month poetry readings. Also I went out for lunch with my team from work to a great Asian place.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Black Skies Die Starless

  • Poet: Jamie Woods
  • Press: Punk Dust Poetry


Black Skies Die Starless is a pamphlet that I became aware of on a recent Black Bough open mic when Jamie read a couple of pieces. This week there’s no playlist from me, instead, the collection has suggested listening. Some class tracks in there too. Lets jump in…

One of Jamie Woods’s best strengths is the weaving of pop-culture references throughout his work that is more than just surface-level soundbite. Pieces including ‘The 90S’ and ‘are the perfect examples of this. In fact, the poem ‘The Perpetual Illusion of Progress’ stands out for its sharp, smart observations of 90s culture. Thankfully things do seem to have moved on. The piece ‘I’ve Found God In Seattle’ is a clever piece on irony and perception.

Another strength is emotional honesty and depth. The grief poem ‘Sleep’ is heart-wrenching with a sucker punch of a closing line. The poem ‘Wednesday Afternoons Bromley High Street’ is intimate as we peer into a therapy room. Blame culture is displayed perfectly here through interaction and steps to self-actualisation also shown. The pivots are placed perfectly. ‘The Opposite of Spring’ is a terrifically crafted poem rich with contrast.

Vivid imagery runs throughout the collection. From the underbelly of the parks doing substances in the piece ‘Swinging’ to racing the streets in ‘Beat-Up Micra’ and the longing to escape in ‘Swansea Sound’ these poems were resonant, and I could picture these in Northumberland mining towns I grew up in.

Throughout the book, readers are treated to a variety of different forms and styles. The prose poem ‘Through Neon Half-Lights’ was a very clever choice as it gives a rounded feel to the piece. Then in ‘You And No-One Else’ the use of separators is a great representation of the message being conveyed and interacts with the piece.

Another thing to mention is the interspersal of graphics throughout the book. The paparazzi piece was a stop and reflect moment but for a completely different reason because while that event was happening, another horrific event was happening closer to home.

Favourite Poem:

More than a few to choose from so let’s settle on five just from what I’ve been thinking of today: Through Neon Half-Lights, Manic Pixie Dream Boy, (Atrophia), On Mount Horeb, and Heaven 17.

Black Skies Die Starless will appeal to readers who want to revisit the nostalgia of the 90s through a different gaze, fans of poetic authenticity and admirers of sharp observational poetry. A masterful collection and so glad I encountered Jamie reading this at the recent Black Bough open mic.

Learn more about Jamie Woods and access the playlist that accompanies the book, here.

Buy Black Skies Die Starless here (I got a bookmark and a couple of pin badges in my delivery, excellent poetry merch). All proceeds go to Leukaemia Care UK. Jamie is their poet-in-residence.

One More Thing…

An important new platform has launched on Substack. We Are The Chorus: Poetry of Witness is a new collaborative project that aims to share poems of protest and witness, and to encourage discussion, inquiry, and action around these themes. There will be an initial gallery of 12 with 1-2 poems shared weekly followed by a pause to allow reflection and to encourage further conversation.

And Another…

There is still time to enter the Katrina Collins Poetry Prize which closes on 1st August 2025 for Best Single Poem. See full details of the prize dedicated to Katrina Collins, mum of the exceptionally kind and ultra talented Briony Collins who is EIC of Atomic Bohemian, here.

And Finally…

Less than a week to go until the Poetic Voice for August is released on The Book Bag. Alarms should be set for noon on Friday 1st August.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: The Oasis
  • Poet: Charles Lang

Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week.

Paul

The Book Bag: Cupid, Grown by Adam Panichi

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.

This week has been very busy, a bit tiring but exhilarating. A late-night reading on Tuesday at the North Bay Poetics showcase of Alan Parrys work on the theme of masculinity, it was an honour to be asked. On Wednesday I attended an excellent event featuring Len Pennie reading from Poyums and forthcoming Poyums Annaw with an open mic section in Jesmond. I read three poems and felt I done okay. On Thursday it was another instalment of Write Here, Right Now which was very insightful and collaborative. I’ve also had chance to work on some of my own writing and editing.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Cupid, Grown

  • Poet: Adam Panichi
  • Press: Broken Sleep Books


I picked up a copy of Cupid, Grown at an event held at my work where local independent sellers were, well, selling. I was lucky to buy the last poetry book from the indie bookseller who said they’d sold more pamphlets and collections than expected which is always a good thing. So without further ado, let’s dive in, also another playlist at the end of this post.

Evocative imagery is a major highlight of this collection displayed throughout. Poems including ‘Bathhouse’ and ‘Concrete Quarterly’ are both vivid, physical and philosophical. ‘Following A Mild Electric Shock I Think Of England’ is a very clever piece also.

Throughout the collection, there are many visceral pieces. The poem ‘Cotton-Collared Mafiosi’ is stark, raw and unflinching. It made me reflect and revisit things I endured and reconcile myself. ‘Snow’ is an exquisite piece of writing on self and masculinity. ‘The Boys Are Killing Their Sims On The Family PC’ (after Andrew McMillan) is a tour de force in referencing and subverting pop-culture through poetry.

Talking of references, the poem ‘Lilac Bushes’ gets a special mention here. Once I read it, and read it again, I looked up the subject then reread it again. A really sharply crafted piece.

There are some truly delicate moments in this book. Pieces including ‘Carciofi’ and ‘Cloth Mother’ give a glimpse into maternal security and admiration. They are resonant, and, in ‘Carciofi’ the use of Italian and the rich depiction of the kitchen and produce is exceptional. I must also mention the intimacy of ‘Tender’, a beautiful poem.

For fans of styles and forms, there are a multitude used in the book. In the poem ‘Slow Erasure of the Author’ there is the blacking out of words mid-line followed by a tremendous and large scale use of white space. The found piece ‘The Interior Of A Heart’ uses text from The Scarlet Letter by Nigel Hawthorne and is printed in original form which adds to the style of the piece and quality of the book itself. The piece ‘White Soft Paraffin’ uses a / in line breaks elevating the emphasis of the language.

Favourite Poem:

A few to choose from this week so in no order; ‘Flight Feathers’, ‘Lilac Bushes’, ‘Carciofi’, and ‘Cupid, Grown’.

This book will appeal to readers who like raw, honest and unflinching poetry that explores identity and love and relationships. If you like sharp observations and excellent use of language, this will be for you also. A gem of a book.

To find out more about Adam Panichi  and to buy Cupid, Grown click here.

As promised, here’s a small playlist to go with this weeks pamphlet;

Amy Winehouse – Cupid
David Guetta & Kelly Rowland – When Love Takes Over
Pet Shop Boys – Love Comes Quickly
Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In The Dark
Mario Lanza & Constantine Callinicos – Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
Fatboy Slim – Weapon Of Choice
Years & Years – Shine
Verna Felton – Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo
Ludovica Einaudi  – Eros

One More Thing…

Not long to go until August’s Poetic Voice is announced and I am tremendously happy to be featuring this poet. The feature will drop at Noon on August 1st. Unfortunately issues outside of my control meant July’s feature did not land.

And Another…

On 5th August 2025, come along to the launch of Beautiful Little Fools on Zoom with Open Mic. Will I be drinking cocktails? Maybe. Will I be wearing a velvet jacket? Maybe. Will there be glitzy poetry to hear? Definitely. Details here.

And Finally…

I’ll be taking a plunge this week and posting a reading on Instagram. Find me using @paulwritespoems. Give me a watch, even if its to laugh at my amateurishness!

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Dark Skies Die Starless
  • Poet: Jamie Miller

Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week.

Paul