Author: Paul

Poem: The Barghest

The Barghest is a figure from Northumbrian folklore. A monstrous black dog with large teeth and claws; believed to be an omen of death. This poem was in response to a prompt on the Top Tweet Tuesday platform on X.

The Bhargest

Sable-sad fur shifting in the gloam, 
you could be invisible but for your coronal eyes
blazing hotter than a hellhound’s, 
and those gouging silver-sickle claws glinting in moondusk, 
your blunt falchion-teeth rattling 
like promethean chains on the windspell. 

It’s hard not to choke 
on the wafting scent of your cavern-heft jowls, 
putrefaction palpable as a spit-roasted suckling pig. 
Sometimes you deafen the darkness with knowing - 
thunder-roars of finality. 

Old lives and older tales tell me to be wary of you. 
Beware of your paws for they will strike me down. 
But I’m no hostage to the opinions of others. 

To me,  you’re simply misunderstood. 
You’re no omen of death. 
Like all dogs, you’re a protector. 
A protector of life. You give us a chance to change, 
to settle balances before it’s too late. 

I’ve been called many names, none my own. 
We are kindred.
Not all that’s written and said, is true.

The Book Bag – In Dangerous Hours by Kitty Donnelly

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

This week has been fairly busy with reading and writing. I saw five of the planets when they were in lunar alignment, went on a chilly woodland walk, and maintained the garden fence during Storm Eowyn. 

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

In Dangerous Hours

  • Author: Kitty Donnelly
  • Press: Indigo Dreams

I’ve been lucky to meet Kitty in person at the infamous Black Bough Poetry Party. That’s where I picked up copies of both of Kitty’s pamphlets. Before that, I knew her work through the online poetry community.

In Dangerous Hours is a collection of poetry that examines humanity. Some pieces are inspired by historical female figures, both real and fictional. 

This is a book overflowing with authenticity. Poems including ‘The Crisis Team’ and ‘Three Deers Descending’ and ‘Call Sixteen’ highlight the real pressure on healthcare and those who work within it and use it. This resonated deeply with me as my wife works in the NHS. 

I’ve mentioned that real and fictional historical figures are used throughout. ‘Jennifer Fairgate’ is a poem tackling a true-life event in Oslo in 1995. This is a genuinely smart piece and when read aloud, it sounds like a true crime podcast. ‘Zelda Fitzgerald; Synaesthesia’ is a remarkable poem about breaking down. The poems throughout this collection are strongly evocative.

Kitty is great at interweaving nature into narratives. Pieces such as ‘Dewsbury Country Park’, ‘Barn Sparrows of Chernobyl’ and ‘Sour Cherry’ use nature in varying guises. ‘Kingfisher’ is an exquisite piece that underscores the connection between humans and the natural world.

Buy this if you appreciate incredibly evocative poetry. 

In Dangerous Hours is available to buy here; https://indigodreamspublishing.com/kitty-donnelly 

Favorite Poem:
The Comb. Then The Kingfisher. 

And Finally…

The Book Bag is on holiday for one week as I celebrate my wife’s birthday on a little trip away.

Take it easy and stay poetic,

Paul

The Book Bag – Blossomise by Simon Armitage

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

This week, I had some amazing news at work: I battled the cold, attended an open mic hosted by Black Bough Poetry, submitted some pieces, attended North Tyneside Writer’s  Circle and went for a lovely meal in Northumberland.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Blossomise

  • Author: Simon Armitage
  • Press: Faber & Faber

Blossomise is a collaboration between Simon Armitage, Angela Harding and The National Trust.  It combines haikus with modern poetry. It is part of the National Trust’s campaign to celebrate spring and learn more about the natural world. I picked up my copy at Wallington Hall in Northumberland last year. 

As the title suggests, the poetry within this collection deals with the oncoming of blossom in spring. If you’ve read my piece “The Cherry Tree Orchard, Alnwick Garden”, you will know that I enjoy blossoming trees. 

It’s no surprise that the calibre of work within the pages is exquisite.

The poem ‘Folk Song’ is hypnotic, with the repetition of “apple, cherry, blackthorn, pear” especially when read aloud. 

‘Fluffy Dice’ is a terrific piece about nature versus man and its resulting unintended consequences. The use of triplets gives it energy and rhythm. It’s my second favourite poem in the collection. 

‘The Plymouth Pear’ highlights the rarity and the resilience of nature. The close grouping and shortness of lines give the piece an urgent immediacy.

The final poem in the collection, ‘Skeleton Tree’ shows us what nature offers and provides made me quite emotional.

A wonderful feature of Blossomise is how haiku is interspersed throughout the book. Each gives you pause. I found myself returning to the final haiku multiple times. 

But it’s not just the poetry that is exemplary. Angela Harding’s artwork that is throughout the book adds another dimension to the collection. The style of illustration really lends itself well to the message of the collection.

If you’re a fan of quality nature poetry brought to life by stunning artwork and love spring, this is the collection for you.

Favorite Poem:
Plum Tree Among The Skyscrapers.

One More Thing… 
There is an EP that accompanies the book recorded by Simon’s band LYR with community choirs across the UK.

Find out more about Simon Armitage here: http://www.simonarmitage.com

And Finally…

I’m really proud to have a piece published in the newest edition of Dust Poetry Magazine on the theme of Joy. I’ve included a link here; https://www.dustpoetry.co.uk/issues/categories/issue-13-joy the work inside is tremendous.

Next Week’s Read

Looking ahead, here’s what’s next in The Book Bag

  • Title: In Dangerous Hours
  • Author: Kitty Donnelly

Take it easy and stay poetic,

Paul

The Book Bag – Rescue Lines by Lesley Curwen

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

This week, I’ve been to the cinema, done some stargazing, visited Morpeth, received some valuable feedback from my mentor, written some pieces, edited some pieces, researched some local mythology, read Orbital by Samantha Harvey and drank lots of lemsip. 

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Rescue Lines

  • Author: Lesley Curwen
  • Press: Hedgehog Poetry Press

I had the pleasure of meeting Lesley in person at the famous Black Bough Poetry Party, where I first heard about this pamphlet. Lesley is widely published and recently guest-edited Black Bough’s Christmas / Winter Anthology (a great read). Lesley is also a broadcaster and sailor.

Rescue Lines is a highly personal pamphlet, dealing with forced adoption, coercive control, finding and losing a sister. Before I go further, let me state, that this is an important book. 

The collection opens with ‘To A Lifeboatman’. A poem about being saved at sea. Throughout the pamphlet, Lesley uses the sea in a variety of ways. ‘A View Of Plymouth Breakwater’ uses it as an outlet of rage. ‘The Seas Between Us Grow Every Day’ uses the sea as a measure of distance in terms of mourning and recovery. In the poem ‘Unmoored’, we see the healing nature of water. 

‘Sister with Bees’ is a visceral piece using bees to display the nature of coercive control. The way Lesley describes the onset of a swarm, illustrates the danger and the speed at which people can succumb to a horrible situation. ‘Irresistible Pull’ is a raw and brutal poem.

‘Full Sister, Half Known’ is deeply saddening and tackles the separation of Lesley from her sister using a sewing machine as a vehicle for the narrative. This is an evocative and brave piece to write. ‘Without End’ is an incredibly moving poem that struck a chord. It made me reflect on my own experiences of grief. ‘Afterness’ brought me to tears. 

This collection is tragically sad at points however, the final poem ‘My Sister’s Eye is Opal’ is a wonderful tribute and shows how Lesley and her sister are still connected through a bestowed ring. 

Get this collection. It is uncompromising, challenging and brave. The truest form of poetry.

To find out more about Lesley, check out her website at: lesleycurwenpoet.com

If you’d like a signed copy of Rescue Lines, you can contact Lesley on X @ElCurwen, 

Unsigned copies are available here: https://www.hedgehogpress.co.uk/product/rescue-lines-lesley-curwen-print-edition/

Favorite Poem:
My Sister’s Eye is Opal.

One More Thing… 

Lesley had a chapbook of Eco Poetry published by Dreich Poetry Press in 2024 available here;
https://hybriddreich.co.uk/product/sticky-with-miles-lesley-curwen/

And Finally
Two upcoming courses that may pique poetic readers’ interest, both on the Sunday 16th February and no overlap so if you wanted you could do both…

Untamed: Writing Without Fear by Alan Parry of Broken Spine Arts – I’ve attended several of Alan’s workshops and they are always informative and engaging. Tickets and Details here;
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/untamed-writing-without-fear-with-alan-parry-tickets-1126372493449?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Crafting Your Year in Poetry – A Strategic Workshop for Poets by Matthew MC Smith of Black Bough Poetry – I’ve attended this and it’s given me a great drive and focus. It is a real boost to your practice and helps identify how to get where you’re going. Tickets and Details here; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crafting-your-year-in-poetry-a-strategic-workshop-for-poets-tickets-1134533804149?aff=ebdsoporgprofile&keep_tld=1

Next Week’s Read

Looking ahead, here’s what’s next in The Book Bag

  • Title: Blossomise
  • Author: Simon Armitage

Take it easy and stay poetic,

Paul

All Of Us Horses

Wild stallions overrunning cobblestone streets 
gallops fierce as northern thunder, 
manes a frenzy of electric-shock wind; 
all thoughts of consequences 
trampled in the wake of lightning-hooves. 

Shoots of meadows sprung up 
in tarmacked alleys and avenues. Band of brothers separated,  
searching for pastures of their own to graze. 

Love bridles all. Reins accepted willingly. 

Untethered and unburdened by expectation, 
when we horses herd together; 
                                                         we canter.

Photo by Vladimir Vujeva on Unsplash

The Book Bag – Headlands by Alice Stainer

Welcome back to The Book Bag. Happy New Year!

I hope you’ve all enjoyed a peaceful and calm festive period.

Over the past few weeks, aside from attending poetry parties, I’ve been celebrating Christmas, and New Year, seeing friends and family and getting a couple of poetry acceptances. I’ve also done some reading and writing and attended a workshop from Broken Spine Arts about ‘Writing the Night’. 

At New Year, our tradition is to go for a walk to blow away the dust from December and welcome in January. So in that vein, I’m sharing a pamphlet that treats us to glorious landscapes to walk among…

Headlands

  • Author: Alice Stainer
  • Press: Live Canon

Alice is a widely published poet with several nominations and awards for her work, so it is no surprise that Headlands contains poetry that carries you through the pages from beginning to end without a misstep. 

Landscapes are described beautifully through rich language and incredible imagery. The opening poem ‘Up Wavering Down’ is a prime example of this as is ‘Whaligoe Steps’ and ‘Port Meadow in Winter’  and ‘PPS. 

‘Dance To The Music of Uncertain Times’ (for the Sadler’s Wells Ballet) is a perfect poetic display of resilience and bravery. After reading this poem, I sought out a documentary to learn more. 

In Headlands, we are treated to some excellent use of form, notably in ‘Moon Moods’, ‘Dress Code’ and ‘The Call’. The different uses, add extra heft to the poems.

Emotions ran high when reading the poems ‘Review’, ‘Blue Wallpaper’ and ‘Still Life’. These are pieces that leave lasting thoughts on you after reading. Remarkable.

Grab this pamphlet if you want to read a collection that will transport you to vivid landscapes to meander along, feel the kaleidoscope of emotions as you journey and give you that thrill you get when you breathe fresh air.

Favorite Poem:
Headlands. Followed closely by Metamorphic.

One More Thing… 

Headlands is Alice Stainer’s debut pamphlet and was the Winner of the 2023/24 Live Canon Pamphlet Competition.

Buy it here: https://livecanon.co.uk/store/product/headlands-alice-stainer 

Next Week’s Read

Looking ahead, here’s what’s next in my book bag

  • Title: Rescue Lines
  • Author: Lesley Curwen

Drop a comment and let me know if you received any poetry collections or anthologies over Christmas and how you found them.

Take it easy and stay poetic,

Paul

The Book Bag – The Keeper of Aeons by Matthew M.C. Smith

Welcome back to The Book Bag. Last week, I enjoyed Damien B. Donnelly’s Back From Away.

This week, I’ve submitted a poem to the Starbeck Orion #NotAdvent edition (accepting submissions until 16th December 2024 on departure, disappearance, abandonment, withdrawal, exodus, evacuation, absence, Extinction Event. submit – you know you want to, details here), done some Christmas shopping, made a delicious fruitcake and got valuable feedback on my writing plans. Among all that I’ve been reading;

The Keeper of Aeons

  • Author: Matthew M.C. Smith
  • Press: Broken Spine

I’ll start by saying that Matthew is a huge figure in the poetry community. He is a publisher extraordinaire through Black Bough Poetry and the architect of Top Tweet Tuesday on Twitter/X, where a community of poets can share poetry and receive weekly feedback from guest hosts and peers.

He is also a workshop facilitator, a campaigner to return The Red Lady of Paviland and Paviland relics to Swansea, an open mic host, a Poetry Party organiser, a mentor, an editor, and, most importantly of all, a genuinely top man who celebrates others’ successes and encourages people to do well. He is one of the people who have had a positive influence on my poetry for which I’m truly grateful.

The Keeper of Aeons takes the reader through space, time, myth, pop culture, the marvel of Welsh landscapes and beyond. The scale of the collection is introduced immediately in the poem ‘Astronaut’ followed by ‘Aeons’ in which past, present and future clash in marvellous sensory descriptions.

As an advocate for imagism through Top Tweet Tuesday and Black Bough Poetry, it is unsurprising that Wales’s vivid, rugged and sometimes dark landscapes are described in such incredible detail. Poems and prose including Mynydd Drummau / Drummau Mountain, ‘Henrhyd Falls / Annwn’  and ‘Sweyne’s Howes’ treat us to explorations of glorious places.

We are treated to nostalgia in ‘Fixing the Hyperdrive’, a piece that pulls us into the family home and the receipt of a Millennium Falcon. References to parma violets  (the most underrated sweet there is) the newsreaders of the era, and obviously a catalogue of Star Wars characters, but the star of the poem is undoubtedly Uncle David. 

The romantic in me admires the inclusion of some exceptional love poetry, notably in ‘Ancient Navigations’ a poem that guides the reader on a road trip around the countryside, and ‘Reunion’, a poem about Penelope and Odysseus reuniting (The Odyssey is my favourite of the epic poems).

In the poem Towards Night: from The Space Station, the question of human progress being too rapid and the potential aftereffects. Again, razor-sharp imagery and language throughout. 

Buy this collection. It’s visceral, thought-provoking, philosophical and clever. Also, it depicts Wales so beautifully and the next time I visit, I’ll have an itinerary as long as my arm. You could describe Matthew as the twenty-first-century RS Thomas.

Favorite Poem:
Reunion. Followed by Ancient Navigations, then The Blue Hour. 

One More Thing… 

I’ve already mentioned Matthew is a campaigner for returning the Red Lady of Paviland to Wales. More information on this campaign can be found here; https://x.com/PavilandFutures and the illustrated pamphlet Paviland: Ice and Fire  (currently on sale at a reduced price) can be found here; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paviland-Ice-Fire-Matthew-Smith/dp/B0BRSG6ZLF 

And Another…

As stated earlier, Matthew is also the man behind Black Bough Poetry. You can learn more about him and Black Bough here; https://www.blackboughpoetry.com/  


And Finally… 

If you’re free on Thursday 12th December 2024, the super-talented Louise Longson is hosting a poetry event on Zoom. Called Human / Nature, the poems explore a sense of place and space. I am one of the readers alongside a stellar array of poets and tickets can be snapped up on the following link for free: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/human-nature-poetry-readings-exploring-a-sense-of-place-and-space-tickets-1094310144099 

The Book Bag will be closed for the next few weeks but don’t fear it will return on 5th January 2025. Thank you for delving into The Book Bag with me in 2024.

Drop a comment and let me know what you’re reading plans over Christmas. I’ll be reading the Black Bough Christmas/Winter Anthology, and this book from Hedgehog Poetry Press which I’m in.

Take it easy, stay poetic and have a very merry Christmas,

Paul

The Book Bag – Back From Away by Damien B Donnelly

Welcome back to The Book Bag. Last week, I read Panic Response by John McCullough and gave my thoughts on the collection.

This week, between finding out I have been nominated for the Pushcart by Broken Spine (details here), hearing I have a Christmas poem forthcoming in the Hedgehog Press Christmas Annual (details here), attending the 2nd launch of Consolamentum by James McConachie hosted by Matthew MC Smith of Black Bough Poetry where I read The Armchair, and submitting to a couple of presses, I’ve been reading:

Back From Away

  • Author: Damien B. Donnelly
  • Press: Turas Press

I’ll begin by acknowledging how much I value what Damien does for the poetry community and how much I appreciate what he has done for me from when I was taking tentative steps into my poetry journey. Being included in the Eat the Storms podcast gave me confidence and pushed me forward. 

Back From Away is a collection covering Damien’s return to Ireland following a well-travelled life. It is divided into two sections: Away and Back. It deals with aspects of lived experience, belonging, identity, and relationships. The pieces in this collection are honest, passionate, and very frank. 

Vivid imagery is found throughout the collection in poems such as ‘Shanghai Streets, ‘‘Far From Home,’ ‘Kamsahamnida,’ ‘Not Everything Is A Competition,’ and ‘Walking the Line.’ The language captures not just what’s on the page but what lies beneath. I especially appreciated the depiction of navigating Shanghai.

In Between the Floorboards and An Antique Letterpress in Amsterdam, the use of floorboards as a measurement of space both literally and figuratively is so well executed. Sometimes in poetry, you see something and think, I wish I thought of that. 

Relationships are scattered throughout the pages of the collection. Damien handles these poems in a multitude of ways including using particle physics in ‘The Scent of Something that Never Existed’, eating horse in ‘Better than Nothing’, and recalling songs in ‘Memory Is Often All We Can Hope For.’ The relationships explored in the Back section of the book hit me hard. Poems such as ‘The Blunt Butcher’, ‘That Snarl Amongst the Goddesses’ and ‘Mechanics’ are great representations of how poetry can be used in a way to describe situations that can’t be simply explained. ‘Mechanic’ had me welling up. 

Along with a variety of topics, Damien uses a range of forms from more formal structures to pieces like ‘The Wave’, ‘Tides’ and ‘The Sum Of’. Here he guides the reader through in delicately controlled way.

If you don’t have this book, then you should. The honesty and emotion is both palpable and visceral, a tour de force from a huge talent.

Find out more about Damien and his projects here: https://deuxiemepeaupoetry.com/ 

For information about the Storms Podcast & Journal visit: https://eatthestorms.com/ 

To order Back From Away, visit Turas Press here: https://turaspress.ie/shop/back-from-away-by-damien-b-donnelly/ 

Favorite Poem:
Late Light is number 1 followed by This Act & Between The Floorboards.

One More Thing… 

There are translations of non-English words in the glossary section and some interesting footnotes including a Johnny Cash appearance. 

And Another…

Back From Away featured heavily in poetry recommendations on the Top Tweet Tuesday reviews week, so you don’t just need to take my word for how good it is. Also, I must get back in touch with Damien as I hope to dive back into a Storm…

And Finally… 

I have been kindly asked to read at an event being hosted by the super-talented poet Louise Longson on Thursday 12th December 2024 on Zoom. Called Human / Nature, the readings explore a sense of place and space. The lineup is stellar and tickets can be snapped up on the following link for free: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/human-nature-poetry-readings-exploring-a-sense-of-place-and-space-tickets-1094310144099 

Next Week’s Read

Looking ahead, here’s what’s lined up for my book bag next week;

  • Title: The Keeper of Aeons 
  • Author: Matthew M C Smith

That’s it for this week’s reading roundup! If you’ve read any of the books I’m sharing or have recommendations for what poetry I should be reading, drop a comment below. 

Take it easy

Paul

The Book Bag: Panic Response by John McCullough

Welcome back to The Book Bag. Last week, I shared my thoughts on Toccata and Fugue with Harp by Margaret Royall.

This week, between the wintry weather, getting a copy of Last Light (an apocalyptic poetry anthology I am featured in, published by The Broken Spine, find out more here), and dashing home from a saxophone lesson to attend an excellent writing workshop by Blackbough Poetry on time, I have been reading;

Panic Response 

  • Author: John McCullough
  • Press: Penned In The Margins
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Panic Response is a collection of poems that deals with grief, mental health and steps toward recovery. Personal themes intersect with wider social issues. The collection is dark with glimmers of light and sometimes feels like several parts of his mind clash. 

The poem ‘Flowers of Sulphur’ deals with the death of a friend head-on. The rawness of the line ‘They found you in the bath, wrists opened. No note’ hits you square in the face and the heart within the context of the whole piece. I re-read this several times out of sorrow and respect. 

In the poem ‘Comma’,  we delve into an unrelenting stream of consciousness. And just like a stream, it doesn’t end how it begins. It’s a clever piece.  

Throughout the book, John McCullough’s vivid use of colour and how it equates to varying emotions or people is incredible. In ‘Quantum’ he dedicates the colour lilac to Avril Brown, his former chemistry teacher, ‘Mr Jelly’ has several depictions of the colour of silence and obviously the piece, ‘Electric Blue’. 

‘Glass Men’ deals with relationships between men expertly and is a great opening to the collection. One of the lines, made me gasp. I won’t say which one, but it is such a perfect observation.

The poem ‘Letter to Lee Harwood’ manages to capture multiple subjects in one; loneliness, Covid, fear, an elderly neighbour’s paranoia and injustice. The form of couplets gives readers time to digest and breathe in this piece. 

I mentioned the use of colour earlier in the poem. This collection also plays with form throughout. Each of these is carefully considered and makes perfect sense for the message of each poem.

I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed this book. It is sad, tragic, harrowing and gets under your skin but there are also lighter moments. I would highly recommend this to anybody looking to get a glimpse into the mind of a great poet and how he has managed to channel experiences into such a formidable collection.  

Favorite Poem:
Crown Shyness. 

One More Thing… 

When I started writing poetry again in July 2020, Reckless Paper Birds by John McCullough was one of the first books, I read. Find more about John McCullough here: https://johnmccullough.co.uk/

And Finally…

In the poem Error Garden, Hama-rikyu Garden in Japan is mentioned. For this week’s Top Tweet Tuesday, I wrote about the Japanese Cherry Tree Orchard in Alnwick Garden.

You can read it here: The Cherry Tree Orchard, Alnwick Garden

Next Week’s Read

Looking ahead, here’s what’s in my book bag next week;

  • Title: Back From Away 
  • Author: Damien B. Donnelly

That’s it for this week’s reading roundup! If you’ve read any of the books I’m sharing or have recommendations for what poetry I should be reading, drop a comment below. 

Take it easy

Paul

Taihaku Joypiloting at Alnwick Garden

We launch, feet pushing from worn grass. 
Our thick sleeper-swing, dampscented by 
April showers hitting heavy rope, 
cradles us under the boutique of Taihaku blossom.

A tender spring whisperbreeze rustles,
swirling silken kisses around the orchard. 
Calm wonderstruck coos echo from fellow joypilots.

Knees propel us further into the vortex, 
paperlight white-pink petals dress us, 
accidentally feed us. 

Bitter tastes are fleeting chasing contentment storms.

We slow,
our legs heavy in a serotonin lake,
flooded with vanilla-cherry pheromones.

A blissful embrace.