Author: Paul

The Book Bag: Smatterings of Cerulean by Susan Richardson

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

This week has been mostly fun. An exquisite array of poetry at Black Bough Poetry open mic, attended Si Fellows’ online launch of Debone & Fold, took a trip to The Alnwick Garden to swing under the Taihaku blossom, went on a couple of woodland walks, enjoyed a couple of big wins for Newcastle United and I also picked up some books from one of the best bookshops in the North, Barter Books.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Smatterings of Cerulean

  • Poet: Susan Richardson
  • Press: Dark Winter Press

I first encountered Susan through her podcast ‘A Thousand Shades of Green’ which is a must listen for poetry lovers where Susan dedicates an episode to a singular poet, reading their work and closes with a poem of her own.  I became a bigger fan through engaging with the same prompts and poets on Twitter then BlueSky where her poetry always teems with emotion and imagery.

Smatterings of Cerulean is Susan’s third collection and is a poetry collection combining Susan’s poetry and photography by Ken Whytock.

A constant of the book, is the economy of language used in pieces. ‘Shore’ and ‘Transformation’ are both prime examples at what can be achieved when stripping back superfluous words. This is a tricky skill to master, I often try to cut out words to hit a brief and it can be a bit of a struggle. I’m sure a lot of poets would agree.

I’ve already mentioned Susan’s ability to capture emotion in her work. Poems including ‘Grief as an Ocean’ ‘Ricochet’ and ‘Ribbons’ all demonstrate this. ‘Until The Room is Airless’ is a masterpiece of Susan’s skill. It will give you pause.

‘Quietly’, ‘Hope’ and ‘Calling Love Home’ are all vivid displays of imagery, showcasing another of Susan’s trademarks. Bearing in mind that these poems are minimal in word count, with less than thirty words each, they all shine.

Layered throughout the collection, are personal poems related to blindness. Susan was diagnosed with a retinal disease in 2002. Examples include ‘Outline of Echoes’ ‘Eyes Closed’ and ‘Striking Colour’, the latter of which is powerfully defiant.

Talking of defiance, I’m glad to say this is a recurring theme in some of the pieces. Susan demonstrates her fight in poems including ‘From Silence’, ‘Through Nightfall’ and ‘Butcher’.

I must mention the curated images throughout the book. They all add an extra element to the work without any disconnection from the poetry. I particularly liked the changes in focus throughout with some softened and some sharp. So this is a shoutout to Ken Whytock.

Smatterings of Cerulean is a book with broad appeal. It will resonate with lovers of imagery and emotion especially when potently-packed into powerful small poems.

To hear Susan reading work from Smatterings of Cerulean, a link to the special A Thousand Shades of Green episode is available here along with all other episodes. Alternatively, listen to A Thousand Shades of Green wherever you normally access your podcasts.

To read more about Susan, her website can be found at: https://floweringink.com

To purchase a copy of Smatterings of Cerulean, click here.

Favourite Poem:

‘In The Veins’ or ‘Striking Colour’.

One More Thing…

On Sunday May 4th, Matthew MC Smith, Editor in Chief of Black Bough Poetry is hosting another of his excellent and highly recommended ‘Crafting Your Year in Poetry’ workshops, 630-9pm UK time. Details here. If you need that extra push to focus for your writing, get yourself along to it.

And Another…

I’m now using Instagram. My handle is paulwritespoems. Give me a follow for poetry-related stuff, landscapes and maybe a dog picture.

And Finally…

There are some excellent poetry collections out there I may not have heard about. If you have any suggestions for upcoming editions of The Book Bag, drop a comment below or send me a message on social media.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Poyums
  • Poet: Len Pennie

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

Paul

The Book Bag Bonus Edition: Peeling Apples by Alan Parry

Welcome to special bonus edition of The Book Bag.

Last week I took some time out to read Peeling Apples, a novella from Alan Parry, published by Dark Winter Press. Alan is the driving force behind Broken Spine Arts, mentioned multiple times previously in The Book Bag news sections.

Peeling Apples is Alan’s debut novella about a young lad called Martyn who befriends his Nana’s next-door neighbour, Mrs Joyce.

The personalities of the two main characters is realistic and rooted in the time. Martyn’s football-mad curious mind and how his perception of Mrs Joyce evolves is deftly done.

The references to Saturday morning wrestling, which does use one character to describe the journey Martin and Mrs Joyce take is a smart device. I also liked the time-accurate wrestlers and wrestling managers and commentators including Bobby Heenan and the merchandise available at the time in the form of cards.

There is a scene in which Martyn is at the ‘pop van’ was like time travelling. We used to get a crate of 6. 2 x Lemonade, Dandelion and Burdock, Sarsaparilla, 2x Cola and a Cream Soda. Sometimes a lemonade was switched for limeade and a cola for orangeade. Every Friday. I love Dandelion and Burdock, but Sarsaparilla will always be my favourite. It’s a bit like a root beer but not. I miss it!

The narrative and prose could easily be adapted to TV. Maybe a series by Ken Loach or Mike Leigh airing on Sunday evenings. It has an almost ‘This Is England’ crossed with ‘Danny, Champion of The World’ feel which is testament to Alan’s approach. This is definitely a working-class setting expertly written by a working-class writer.

I read Peeling Apples in under 2 hours. Only stopping for a drink part way through. The pace of the narrative is focussed yet unforced making it an easy read.

This novella truly resonated with me.

I would like to see another Martin and Mrs Joyce book. Maybe a collection of short stories containing more of their adventures.

Peeling Apples is a highly nostalgic book that takes the reader on a journey of a boy reaching emotional maturity. It’s also a tale of friendship and how important bonds can be made with those we think are our polar opposites.

I’d recommend this to anyone who knows the value of friendship, even more so if you were a child of the 80’s and 90’s.

Peeling Apples is available on Kindle and in Paperback. To find out more about the book and order your copy, click here.

Sunday’s Read

  • Title: Smatterings of Cerulean
  • Poet: Susan Richardson

Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you on Sunday.

Paul

The Book Bag: New Famous Phrases by Daniel Hinds

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

In a week where I’ve received some voice messages from an array of characters, celebrated my Father-in-laws 70th birthday, attended a work conference on the other side of the River Tyne, enjoyed some sunshine, caught up with friends and watched Newcastle beat Leicester 3-0, I have also managed to finish a couple of audiobooks.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

New Famous Phrases

  • Poet: Daniel Hinds
  • Press: Broken Sleep Books


I first came across Daniel Hinds at a Black Bough Poetry Open Mic. A familiar accent and some exceptionally well-read pieces were enough to get me to find out more. Luckily his debut collection has just been released so I thought, I’ll have that.

New Famous Phrases is a collection that appreciates poetry and includes conversations with, and responses to, poems that came before. That’s not all though, the poetry within these pages is fresh, inventive (including prose poetry reviews) and sharp.

The poems ‘Crying of the Gulls’ and ‘Earth Giant’ are just two of the catalogue of incredible imagery rich pieces in this collection. The language and points of reference bring scenery to life and ground you in the moment. ‘Keeping Watch’ is another excellent display, placing the reader in the first lockdown.

There are strong evocative pieces throughout the collection. Pieces such as ‘I Haunt You Back’, ‘Sundog Howl’ and ‘Lady of the Rock’ are just some of the poems that make you pause.

Form is used in multiple ways. In fact, Daniel’s book reviews in the form of prose poems were commended in the National Centre for Writing’s UEA New Forms Award 2021. Obviously the dialogue poetry in itself is a form that plays a pivotal role in the collection also. ‘Phillip Pullman’s Graduation’ is a response piece that is divided into sections which adds to an extra dimension.

For fans of myths and heroes, you’re in for a treat. ‘Banquet For Penelope’ is a tremendous poem that contains perceptive imagery, taut emotion, clever wordplay and a cast of heroes. The piece ‘The Magi’s Camel’ in response to T.S Eliot is another remarkable example, vivid with a palpable undercurrent.

Daniel does humour and wit really well. Poems including ‘Untitled, The Fourth Monster’ (which contains some great northern vernacular) and Cryptid (The Mystery of Water) are standouts. The latter being perfect satire for the 2020’s. Also, throughout are some footnotes that will make you chuckle.

The conversation poetry is expertly done. None of the pieces feel clunky or in the realm of unintentional parody and caricature. The piece ‘The Train Goes Backwards’ is a great response to Ezra Pound’s ‘In A Station Of The Metro’.

Yes, you’ve read that correctly. I’ve mentioned Pound and Eliot, there’s also some Hughes responses, HD, Shelley, Keats, Wordsworth and more. All considered to be greats, so to tackle them could have been deemed a risk. But with great risk comes greater reward. Which is what this book ultimately is.

Buy New Famous Phrases if you like creative, inventive poetry that is rich in imagery and emotion that brings the old greats into the modern era with responses, challenges and respect.

Favourite Poem:

Cryptid (The Mystery of Water).

To learn more about Daniel, read his Society of Authors profile here.

New Famous Phrases is available to buy on Broken Sleep Books here.

One More Thing…

Daniel was this week’s host of Top Tweet Tuesday, posting a challenge to open dialogue with an imagist poem. My contribution can be found here.

And Another…

If you read The Book Bag last week, you’ll know that Debone & Fold has an online launch coming up on April 17th with special guests. To find out more, click the Broken Spine Arts events page here. You will also be able to check out upcoming workshops and other events.

And Finally…

Keep your eyes peeled for The Book Bag dropping a special Bonus episode on Wednesday.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Smatterings of Cerulean
  • Poet: Susan Richardson

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

Paul

Making Way

after Between Walls by William Carlos Williams

The polythene that hauntingly wail-screeched 
in the winter stormwind has been torn down.

No more shards of shattered beer bottles filter or flitter 
the daylight across the distressed concrete in spring. 
For now, grey remains grey.

Summer moths flourish-flounce in stale air, 
before flying off into lemon-sherbet sun.

Leaf litter, kindling dry, the colour of autumn fire 
has been swept up and soaked to stop 
the spread of flame.

Soon, in this periphery of the living, a new 
maternity ward will announce itself through cries 
and tears and the whirring melodies 
of diagnostic instruments.

Please see the image below for the original poem.

The Book Bag: Debone & Fold by Si Griffiths

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

Well this week has been fun. A trip to Northumberland, bagged myself some proper Craster Kippers, got out and about in the sunshine and walked the dog under sunsets the colour of beach towels. Got to read at the Broken Spine Arts open mic, caught up with some good friends, finished reading Understorey and my copy of the Poetry Review and my Cult of The Spiny Hog Goody box arrived.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Debone & Fold

  • Poet: Si Griffiths
  • Press: Broken Spine Arts

When I first heard that Si Griffiths’ debut, Debone & Fold was set against the backdrop of professional kitchens, I thought YES!!! (You probably won’t know this but I’ve been a trained chef since 18 and worked in kitchens until Covid.)

Being a chef is a tough job. It’s also a highly skilled yet mainly underpaid job. It’s not glamorous. To be a chef you need to be uncompromising, relentless and fearless, firing on all cylinders emotionally and mentally and understanding that you’re only as good as your last service (a lot like poetry).

Debone & Fold is served like a meal in a good restaurant. The courses, named in Italian, allow breath and relaxation before moving on to the next plate.

The opening poem drops us directly into the heart of the kitchen. ‘Zero Hours +/- ’ is an unwavering, unflinchingly authentic piece on the pressures and challenges that chefs face daily especially during busy periods, in this case December. This is not a glamourised made-for-tv kitchen, this is the real deal. It’s so vivid, I started thinking about the mise-en-place I used to do and sighed relief at the realisation I don’t have that responsibility anymore.


The relentless environment is also explored in the poem ‘Regimental Anarchy’ but in a different way. Every chef across the country has experienced the treatment dished out by that Sous.

The darker side of kitchens comes to the forefront in the piece ‘To Pass The Pass’. This situation would have been observed by many chefs over the years. I’ve witnessed some fairly shady stuff in some of the places I’ve worked.

This book reminds me of a quote by the late Anthony Bourdain, ‘The cooking profession, while it’s a noble craft and a noble calling, ’cause you’re doing something useful – you’re feeding people, you’re nurturing them, you’re providing sustenance – it was never pure.’

The collection isn’t all about the blood, sweat and tears. There are tender moments scattered throughout in the tale of a romantic relationship evolving over time including the poem ‘Hors d’Ouvres’. This is a piece that takes the chef from the kitchen and shows the other side. Dining out, sharing a special meal with another, lost in the moment. The realisation that it’s closing time as the chairs are stacked is a great image.

Si is creative with form. Carefully plating up pieces including ‘Gangplank’, ‘Long Term Love’ and ‘Temper Temper’. The way they are laid out and read give extra depth. A recipe poem is tricky but the skill in which ‘Long Term Love’ is crafted is exceptional.

There’s a real level of detail in this collection. In ‘All In The Game’ the handling of produce is described meticulously. The respect Si Griffiths shows for ingredients is a cornerstone of a being a great chef that translates into being a great poet, where words are now his raw materials aside from the deft touch addressing produce. I must also mention the poem ‘Michelin’ and references to the mother sauces, Escoffier and other little morsels. They authenticate Si’s knowledge, skill and experience in the kitchen.

Insight into a chef’s mentality is expertly displayed in ‘Don’t Do Things By Halves’. Any chef who has pride in their work can be easily disappointed sitting in a restaurant where ‘fresh’ only comes in the form of a sliced lemon. This becomes an issue when trying to remain present for your partner or family. It’s not a case of snobbery, it’s pride in the craft.


This collection is passionate, authentic and unflinching with steel-sharpened observations. For me, it was like a delicious meal, finished in one sitting but with a couple of my favourite pieces set aside to return for leftovers. I’ve gone back to it three times already. It is now sitting on my bookshelf with Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential.

Favourite Poem:
I can’t pick just one so I’ll give you three. ‘Apron Strings’, ‘A Moment Brocaded’ and ‘It’s All In The Game.’ I could easily extend my choices such is the depth.

You can buy Debone & Fold here.

You can also join the online launch of Debone & Fold taking place on April 17th at 7pm. Details here.

One More Thing…

Alongside their workshops that contribute to the 2026 Poetry Award fund, Broken Spine Arts currently have 2 submission windows. A call for short stories with a festive theme and a window for coming of age poetry. The Broken Spine website can be accessed here.

And Another…

Black Bough Poetry have one of their open mic’s coming up. On Sunday 13th April 2025 you can join a welcoming and supportive environment to read three short poems or sit back and relax and take in the wondrous poetic performances. Booking details are here – I’ll be there.

And Another…

The final touches are getting put together for my online writing group with invites to a taster session going out by 14/04/2025.

And Finally…

Keep an eye out for a surprise bonus edition of The Book Bag coming very soon.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Famous New Phrases
  • Poet: Daniel Hinds

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

Paul

The Book Bag: A Dress With Deep Pockets by Jen Feroze

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope your week has been poetically rich.

This week I managed to play my saxophone with less pain and made good progress learning Mr PC by John Coltrane. I also got to speak to one of my poetry heroes Matthew MC Smith, wrote a new piece and ramped up writing group plans. I also spent some time in Northumberland seeing family.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

A Dress With Deep Pockets

  • Poet: Jen Feroze
  • Press: Smith|Doorstop Books

I’m a big fan of Jen Feroze. Having heard and read Jen’s poetry in several places both online and in print including Iamb, Dust, Ink Sweat and Tears and more, I’ve also had the pleasure of interacting via social media through Top Tweet Tuesday.

The collection is acknowledged ‘For my friends’ so it should not come as a surprise that friendship is a main theme of the book. At its heart, this pamphlet deals greatly with people and place.

‘Hare Girl’ is the opening poem and introduces readers to an old friend with a perfect blend of nostalgia, imagery and humour. For people who ever camped while under the influence of cheap spirits and artificial cider in their early teens, like me, this was very relatable.

I first heard the poem ‘Gorge’ in Wave 16 of Iamb poetry and is a piece that displays Jen’s skill in encompassing multiple emotions and moods into a piece. The shifts in tone throughout the poem give it an importance like the Gorge itself. The feeling of wanting to escape small towns for cities is reminiscent of many people I grew up with including me.

For readers who like to see different forms used in a collection will be happy that there are multiple styles used throughout. ‘Let’s Start A Commune’, a stream of consciousness poem (my favourite) and a golden shovel ‘It’s 2003 and Joni is Teaching Me About Love’ and ‘Anne in December’ are three distinct pieces.

The poem ‘Now I’m Older I Can Call Her Linda’ deals with the how we see adults in authority as children then as adults. The piece ‘I Invite my Grown-Up Daughter Round For Her Dinner’ is the opposite in premise. How adults see children in the future and wondering if the impression will be the reality.

The way in which relationships are portrayed throughout the collection are honest. Jen brings her friends and family from the page into the world with all their idiosyncrasies. The people all seem familiar as if they were part of your social circle or wider community. A great example of this, is the piece ‘The Four Of Us In August’.

I could go on an on about the poems in this collection. I would talk more about the friendships on show in this collection, but they are so special I will let you find out for yourself.

This pamphlet is a showcase on people and place, friendship and time.  It is relatable, heartfelt and soulful poetry.

To read more about Jen and buy this book, find more details at https://jackdaweditorial.com/

To listen to Gorge and other poems by Jen on Iamb click here.

Favourite Poem:
‘Let’s Start A Commune’ followed closely by ‘Gorge’ and ‘Will You Be My Friend, Grace Dent’.

One More Thing…

Broken Spine Arts are holding two workshops in April. Untamed: Writing Without Fear is on April 13th with Write the Night taking place on April 27th. I have attended both of these workshops in the past and found them engaging and useful. I managed to craft solid poems from each workshop. Also, all funds made go directly into Broken Spine’s Award Fundraising Campaign. Details of Broken Spine Events can be found here: https://thebrokenspine.co.uk/event-calendar/

And Another…

The landmark 60th Anniversary issue of Poetry Wales is now available celebrating 60 new Welsh poets. For more details click here.

Finally…

There are a couple of really good submissions open at the moment that I’ve saw online. Links are below, and if you’d like me to share more competition or submissions news let me know in the comments or on social media.
The Madrigal
The Interpreter’s House (opens on 1st April)

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Debone and Fold
  • Poet: Si Griffiths

Just Before You Go

I was very sad to hear of the passing of Ivor Daniel, an incredibly kind and supportive poet and man whose work I admired for his distinctive style. Matthew MC Smith has created a beautiful tribute to Ivor which includes some of his work here.

Mark Anthony Owen has also paid tribute to Ivor on Iamb. You can hear Ivor recite his poetry here.

Take care and be poetic,

Paul

The Book Bag: Mountains That See In The Dark by Regine Ebner

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

Well what a week it has been. After 70 years without a domestic cup, Newcastle United finally won the League Cup at Wembley. Since then, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind of emotions. I attended an awayday at work and heard a speaker discussing change which was really interesting. I also met a friend for a catchup over food and drinks.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Mountains That See in the Dark

  • Poet: Regine Ebner
  • Press: Black Bough Poetry

A few weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on Regine Ebner’s pamphlet ‘Oxidized Pennies’. I said that a new collection was coming from Regine in the near future, and readers, it has arrived.  You’ll also know that I’m a massive fan of Regine in her poetry and for her adventurous spirit.

The collection, recently announced as nominated for a Forward Prize by Black Bough Poetry, is divided into 6 sections (including bonus poems), each taking inspiration from the mountainous desert terrain that serves as a backdrop for much of Regine’s poems. A page ‘About Regine’ gives details as to how her life was shaped and how she arrived in the desert.

Her skill in economy of language has evolved since Oxidized Pennies. Two compact poems; ‘Citrine’ and ‘Drunk Confetti’ illustrate this, with word choices connecting to their underlying themes more vividly. I can also say the same for ‘Jellybean Hill’ and ‘A Myriad of Leaf’.

Regine plays with the spectrum of colour deftly in the collection. The pieces ‘Apparitions’, ‘Cracked Surfaces’ and ‘Hurricanes’ paint the wilderness of the mountainous desert region brilliantly, lifting them from the page to the mind’s eye.

The imagery throughout is exceptional. I could list countless poems in this collection where it felt as though I was immersed in landscaped scenes unfamiliar to me. I will pick out the following as examples; ‘Bonds of Salted Land’, ‘Missions and Slit Rail Fences’ and ‘Hushed Peaks and Glory Columbine’.  A great deal of the pieces are love letters to the environment that Regine calls home.

I read a quote at the Northern Poetry Library a while ago that said ‘…Poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen’, and this collection is definitely testament to that.

Poems including ‘Love and Beasts’ and ‘Desert Streets’ play with movement in differing ways. The shifts in pace really engage the reader further rather than rushing them through to a crescendo of a closing line.

Mountains That See in the Dark is a tremendous second ‘album’ that will appeal of lovers of imagery woven throughout emotional and natural reckonings. This is precise poetry that resonates.

To buy Mountains That see In The Dark, and find more about Regine, click here. It is available in both Paperback and for Kindle.

Favourite Poem:

Doorways.

One More Thing…

My efforts to start a new online poetry writing group have ramped up and will soon be sending out invites. The plan is to host every 6 weeks midweek, probably a Thursday evening (UK time).

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: A Dress With Deep Pockets
  • Poet: Jen Feroze

Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week. If you have any recommendations in the meantime, please leave a comment.

Paul

The Book Bag: All Island, No Sea

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

This week has been fairly busy. A Black Bough Poetry open mic attended online (due to being unable to attend my Sax lesson because of a bad shoulder), saw Vera; End of an Era at Newcastle City Hall hosted by Steph McGovern with Ann Cleeves and Brenda Blethyn in conversation. Also, I’ve been able to write a few new pieces, some slight tweaks needed and I’ll be very happy with them. 

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

All Island, No Sea

  • Author: Chris Campbell
  • Press: Alien Buddha Press

I met Chris Campbell in person at Black Bough Poetry’s poetry party last year. He is a top guy and a great poet. His poetic delivery is great. I enjoyed having a couple of pints with him and learning of his journalistic exploits after our readings.  

All Island, No Sea is Chris’s third collection, and he has been published widely in journals, lit mags and anthologies. 

There is some sprinkling of Sartre in the poem ‘That Which We Own’. It opens by discussing if a tree can truly be owned then navigates materialism before offering a solution. I took time to reflect on this poem and realised I had written a recent piece called ‘Resurgency’ which deals with an oak reclaiming land. 

Pieces including ‘Dear Alan, Alan, Alan’, ‘Joey Barton Has the Same Barber’ and ‘Aim’  have a great sense of humour. My wife asked if I was okay as I sniggered quite loudly for a good few minutes after reading ‘Dear Alan, Alan, Alan’. 

Poems including ‘The Morning You Threw Wet Socks As We Argued Over Bagels’, ‘The First Few Letters of Happy Birthday’ and ‘Hot Chocolate Doesn’t Taste The Same’ brim with honesty and emotion. Chris’s ability to draw focus to the minor details, ground the reader in reality. The use of wet socks fuelling a squabble before the memories of bagels gone before bringing lightness and defusing the tone is terrifically done.

Love shines brightly through the book in ‘Minutes Tiptoe’, ‘Pocket To The Stars’ and ‘I Scrape the Earth Underneath This Pram’. These are tender and delicate pieces that will raise a smile.

The collection pivots into political sentiment in the pieces ‘All Island, No Sea’ and ‘England Sits on A Brick Wall’. However, Chris’s skill in personification and metaphor ensures this does not jar with the rest of the book which can sometimes be the case.

Nostalgia is woven through the collection without being overdone. Pieces including ‘Why I Salute with Miniature Swords’, ‘Blossom Skins’ and ‘Ostrich’ give us an insight into Chris’s past and values. These are authentic poems without cliche. 

Lovers of rich imagery are well-catered for in this collection. ‘Rusting Boat’, ‘Starfish’, ‘Morning’ and ‘Skeletal Leg’ are all exemplary vivid examples of this. 

Readers are treated to various forms throughout and the use of language is deliberate and precise. The poems ‘Petersfield Saxophonist’, ‘Aim’ and ‘Ants’ show how to craft poems using the best style to bring them to life from the page. 

All Island, No Sea is a highly accomplished collection. Buy this book if you like poems that traverse emotion, are both introspective and wide in scope and appreciate great language and form. This collection is poetry’s sweet spot.

Read more about Chris at https://www.chriscampbellpoetry.co.uk/

Buy All Island No Sea here.

Favorite Poem: 

Petersfield Saxophonist for its use of form, vivid imagery and sensory detail.

One More Thing…

You can see Chris perform at Cheltenham Poetry Festival on 17 May 2025. Details of the Cheltenham Poetry Festival can be found here. 

And Another…

A Broken Spine Arts #PoemsAbout Open Mic is taking place in a couple of weeks time on Zoom. 3 April 2025 at 8:00pm UK Time. Details here.

And Another…

Frazzled Lit’s new issue is released today. Check out their site here.

And Finally…

Congratulations to Peter Devonald for winning The Broken Spine Arts Readers Choice Award 2025 with his poem ‘No One Lives Here Anymore’.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Mountains That See In The Dark
  • Poet: Regine Ebner

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

Paul

Resurgency

The terrace-surrounded oak is reclaiming its land.

Unseen subterranean tentacular incursions
move through mychorrhizal maps and attack .

Successful missions lift the grip of tarmac from pavement and road,
opening arteries and veins like a villain in a horror movie.

Saplings encamp along front lines;
fortifications of shoots climb slowly and
self-seeded wildflowers and mercenary-moss
shore up defences.

A hi-viz council kill squad
arrives at the battlefield too late. 
The war has already been won. 
A new country has emerged despite attempts to suffocate progress.

Their wasp-cry chainsaw lays claim to trunk. 
An undignified toppling of a head of state. 
In their minds, man must always win 
however hollow a victory.


Photo by Collab Media on Unsplash

The Book Bag: Sleepers Awake by Oli Hazzard

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

This week was the second week of training in my new role at work and has been very busy. The Executive team sent me a box of chocolates to congratulate me on the new role which was unexpected but greatly appreciated. I struggled at my Sax lesson due to my bust shoulder but it was fun all the same. Also, I really enjoyed the speakers I saw at Alnwick Story Fest. All very different topics but important too. Did I blow my budget on books? Yes. I also picked up this week’s collection though. 

Poetry-wise I’ve started drafting some pieces and submitted a couple of poems. I’ve also started work on creating an online writing group.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Sleepers Awake

  • Author: Oli Hazzard
  • Press: Carcanet Press

Sleepers Awake opens with a sprawling 56-page poem encompassing various forms and themes. Progress: Real and imagined pulls in multiple directions like a fever dream or string of consciousness. 

The poem is very clever in that it involves writing a poem in response to a painting by Nicole Eisenmann. However, before returning to finish, the poet must deal with the distractions of everyday life. As in real life, the distractions are constant, external and internal. 

The shifts in form bring changes in pace and thematic subjects, keeping you engaged as a reader. I didn’t lift my head for a while, giving the occasional ‘ooh’ and chortle. 

At times the piece becomes very meta, referring to language choices made to increase the poem’s status. The act of adding a pear to make the piece ‘more hummy’.

I have to credit Oli Hazzard for such a well-crafted and complex piece.

Oli Hazzard is adept at wordplay, the poem ‘Postpositivity in Spring’, is a string of economical couplets split into sections, with each couplet starting by ending the previous one. Smart work.

‘Sleepers Awake’ is a terrific display of imagery and lyrical language to discuss snowfall in Glasgow. There’s also romanticism at play here which I really enjoyed. This is my second favourite poem in the collection.

We are treated to plenty of contemporary references within the collection. Pieces including ‘Dingdingdinggedicht’, ‘Living, etc’ and ‘Earth IV’ are all strong examples of being restrained in use to deliver the best impact. (Side note: The Hufflepuff reference made me chuckle. My wife played  a Hufflepuff in the first Harry Potter movie.)

Music is mentioned throughout the book. The poems ‘Composed at Edberg’ and Theory of The Lyric are the obvious titles to note, but then there is another immense sequence titled Incunabulum. 16 poems made up of 4 stanzas with 4 lines per stanza. The lines are too long to fit on the page in ‘portrait mode’ so were printed in landscape. The arrangement has multiple musical qualities and is another show of skill and craftsmanship. I must say this shows a great relationship between Oli Hazzard and Carcanet as I’m sure this would have caused some challenges when printing. 

Buy this book if you’re into poetry that is thought-provoking in terms of theme and form, like some humour and a musical quality to your poetry. This is a collection that stretches traditional themes into the current poetic sphere.

To buy Sleepers Awake, visit the Carcanet Press here: https://www.carcanet.co.uk/cgi-bin/indexer?product=9781800172999

Favorite Poem: 

Progress: Real and Imagined for the sheer scale, effort and complexity.

Before You Go…

Black Bough Poetry has an open mic on Wednesday 12 March 2025 kicking off at 7:15 pm. It’s a great forum to test poems in a supportive environment with a wonderful host, Matthew Smith. Details here.

One More Thing…

Full House Literary have released the latest issue of their litmag and it is visually stunning with incredible poetry, prose, art and other fascinating creative work.  Read it here.

And Finally…

Broken Spine Arts is running a weekly poetry prompt on Blue Sky. #PoemsAbout is every Friday and they also now run a regular #PoemsAbout open mic to get involved in. Find out more about the open mic here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Chris Campbell
  • Poet: All Island, No Sea

Take it easy and stay poetic,

Paul