The Book Bag: Hatchery by Elizabeth Osmond

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

Well what a couple weeks I’ve had! I feel like I’ve been non-stop but the train has slowed for a while…

The online launch of Unwhispered Legacy was a massive success and I have been overwhelmed by the sheer scale of positivity sent my way. Thank you to all the readers and audience who joined and thanks to those who tried their hardest to make it.

I was lucky to be invited to participate in Poetry (in Brief) hosted by the excellent Rachel Turney in association with Wild Roof Journal where we discussed inspiring overseas places. I learnt so much during the event from the other poets and I have a travel itinerary now. You can watch the video here. Rachel is also this month’s Poetic Voice. Catchup on a cracking part 1 of her feature here which includes a Q& A and poems from her recently released collection Retired Wannabe Kid Club.

Last Sunday evening, I hosted a Book Bag Open Mic which was such a great event and the variety of poetry shared was terrific. Tickets for the next open mic are now on sale but are limited. Grab them here.

The allotment is a marvel. We harvested our first radish (icicle) of the year and used it in a steak salad. Can’t wait to harvest alot more! Bad news though, a snail has eaten our sunflowers. Lucky, we have some more ready to be planted.

Write Here, Right Now happened on Thursday and was a wonderful evening where I got to spend dedicated time on my writing. I shared a WIP and got some really valuable insight. I hope to complete the piece this weekend. The next one is in June, reach out if you’d like to know more.

We paid a visit to the Bluebell Woods in Bothal on May Bank Holiday. It was a carpet of bluebells (obviously) and wild garlic. There was so much birdsong, I shared a couple of pictures from my Merlin App but it cut off a couple of species.

On top of that I’ve been reading;

Hatchery

Poet: Elizabeth Osmond
Press: V Press

Hatchery is Elizabeth’s debut pamphlet that draws on themes including the history of neonatology and experience of working in the NHS.

Elizabeth’s empathy shines through the pamphlet and gives every piece authenticity. Two of my favourite pieces are the heartfelt ‘The Tiny Nappy’ and ‘I Wish I Could Write You A Prescription For Time’. These both have made a huge impression on me this week and have reminded me of the need for kindness. ‘Conversation’, another of my favourites, made me very emotional. ‘Dads’ is another piece that shows Elizabeth’s empathetic approach to people and poetry.

Hatchery delivers humour in well-placed positions in the book. I couldn’t help but smile at ‘Newbie’ and also the wry matter-of-fact description in ‘Newborn Check’.

Elizabeth tackles challenging subjects throughout the book. ‘Mandatory E-Learning For Consent’ is a remarkable poem. As is ‘Spectacle’. Probably my absolute favourite poem in the book is ‘Doctors in Difficulty’, an authentic illustration of what being a doctor in 2026 is like and everything that comes with it.

Elizabeth’s skill in language, imagery and metaphor is present from the first poem and throughout. The piece ‘I Married The NHS’ is surreal and vivid filled with animalia. This continues in the piece ‘Neonatologist Visits The Reptile House’ which is delicate and tender. The book is perfectly balanced between realism and surrealism.

For all the fans of various forms and styles, Hatchery has you covered. ‘Ode To A Towel’ uses a couplet structure, there’s several ‘after’ pieces including ‘Hatched’. Elizabeth uses space as implied erasure to create an amazing effect in the piece ‘Spaced Out’.

This is a book which will appeal to poetics who appreciate emotive writing that is rooted in lived experience. It will strike a chord with parents and (adult) children. Readers who love explorations of form, language and imagery will enjoy this book. Grab it with both hands and hold it close, it’s a gem of a book.

To buy Hatchery, click here.

Keep up to date with Elizabeth on BlueSky, here.

Favourite Poem:

I’ve already mentioned ‘Doctors in Difficulty’, ‘The Tiny Nappy’, ‘If I Could Write You A Prescription For Time’ and ‘Conversation’. I must also add the following handful; ‘Prognosis’, ‘I Want To Show You The Sink’, ‘On The Uses Of Pomanders’, ‘Making An Exhibition of Myself’ and ‘Bits’.

Oh, you stuck around for a playlist, did you? Here’s an eclectic mix for you…

Jack Johnson – Better Together
Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
Carole King – You’ve Got A Friend
Novo Amor – Anchor
Queen & David Bowie – Under Pressure
Brandi Carlile – The Story
Eva Cassidy – Songbird
The Paper Kites – Bloom
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris – Wildflowers
Tracy Chapman – The Promise
Norah Jones – Nightingale

Before I Go…
Elizabeth is hosting an online zoom launch for Hatchery on the 17th of May with a fantastic lineup. Ticket details here.

One More Thing…
Dust Poetry Magazine is still accepting submissions until the 17^th May. Full details including submission guidelines here. Send them your best work.

And Finally…
The excellent Frazzled Lit Short Story Competition is returning for 2026. For those thinking of entering check the details which includes a grand grand prize, click here.

Next Week’s Read

Title: Chasms
Poet: Carmella de Keyser

Take it easy, stay poetic and practice kindness.

I’ll catch you next week.

Paul

The Book Bag: Cherry Blossom At Nightbreak by Rishi Dastidar

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

I’ve had a very busy week.

Work is ramping up ahead of Summer. I’m all settled into my new team and I’m learning more each day.

The allotment progresses more each passing day. Peas are now in their bed, turnips are planted, sunflowers are in the border. It won’t be long until we can start picking salad leaves.

On Sunday, I was at The Alnwick Garden to experience the Taihaku Cherry Orchard for the last day of its peak bloom. I took this week’s read to enjoy on the swings under the blossom. Coupled with the Japanese lanterns, chimes and traditional music, it was super relaxing.

After the Garden, I went to my parents for Sunday lunch. Cracking Roast Beef.

Sunday evening was the launch of Eleanor Holmes’s #Moth. It was an excellent launch with great readers, beautiful harp and a look behind the creation process from Sara who runs Ethel. Catch up with Eleanor’s Poetic Voice Feature here.

The running order has been finalised for the Unwhispered Legacy launch night, (subject to change). Join me and a stellar lineup of poets reading from the anthology, grab your tickets here.

On Friday, I attended an online workshop hosted by Sasha Debevec-McKenney, as part of Bristol’s Lyra Poetry Festival programme of events. It was a fantastic evening and has given me new techniques and a different perspective on approaching poems. We also read the work of 3 poets I wasn’t familiar with. I will now be buying more books!

This week, I’ve been reading;

Cherry Blossom At Nightbreak

Poet: Rishi Dastidar
Press: Nine Arches Press

Rishi’s poetry has real heart. The pieces ‘A leopard parses his concerns’ and ‘A man of theory on the Via Publica’ are two of my favourites that deal with relationships exceptionally well as is ‘Chromophilia (Song for B)’ and the title poem ‘Cherry Blossom At Nightbreak’ (another of my favourites). I’ll also add that ‘Charon the bus driver’ is a poem that made me happy.

A spotlight is shone on the everyday. This is another of Rishi’s powers as a writer, to make poetry accessible and relatable. ‘Rake with telescopic handle’ and ‘Playing tag’ are both excellent examples of this. The poem ‘Knives raised in prayer’ takes us to the hallowed halls of Ikea, adding philosophical questions to the shelves.

There is plenty of humour in the book. ‘On bullshit jobs’ is one of my favourites because of its authenticity. On the following page is ‘Meanwhile in Ebisu’ a terrific example of satirical poetry. ‘I dreamed I stopped traffic’ is another chuckle worthy piece that makes great use of Pantone. I knew straightaway who would appreciate the poem.

‘Felt despairing, might delete later’ (one of my favourites), is a sad and strong assessment on the state of the current political situation. Its compact nature gives heightens the emotional language. ‘Credentialism’ is a smart poem that startled and stayed with me all week, especially the last line.

Excerpt from Felt despairing, might delete later

The style and form fans are well catered for in the collection. The use of couplets and line breaks in ‘Scapegoat-ish’ give it a tremendous rhythm. There is rhyme poetry in ‘Love’s Renewal’, a sprawling sequence poem named ‘the break of a wave’ which includes the clever ‘To his mistress moving to LA’ and a variety of styles. There is also free verse, a reverse ghazal, sonnets, an almost sonnet and more.

This is a book that will appeal to many readers for its heart, warmth, relatability and accessibility. Humour and hope can be found across the pages. Form is played with throughout so the technique lovers will adore this collection. I hadn’t even scratched the surface of how much I could write on this book, but I will say it’s one of the best collections I’ve read this year.

Favourite Poem:

I’ve already mentioned ‘A leopard parses his concerns’, ‘A man of theory on the Via Publica’, ‘Cherry Blossom At Nightbreak’, ‘On bullshit jobs’ and ‘Felt despairing, might delete later’. I’ll add another handful; ‘How to verb a sore heart’, ‘The late-style of my funk dancing’, ‘This Year My Only Strategy Was To Read Books About Strategy, To Work Out What To Do The Year After’, ‘Modern ruin’ and ‘Melted cockerel’. I could keep going.

The Book Bag: Poetic Voices – March 2026

It’s March already. Spring approaches with pace, clocks are changing this month and I fell like time is something we can’t grasp both figuratively or metaphorically.

As we slide gently into the (hopefully) warmer months, it’s my pleasure to bring you another Poetic Voice.

I first encountered this poet on social media and was startled at the beauty and elegance of language used in poems that always include multiple layers and deep emotional connection with readers. I feel very lucky to be able to share original work from this tremendously talented writer.

So without further ado, let me introduce March’s featured poet….Vikki C.

Vikki C. is a London-born poet, essayist and musician whose poetry, fiction and non-fiction appears in over 90 publications worldwide. She has been nominated for The Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, and the Orison Best Spiritual Literature Award and was shortlisted in The Bridport Prize and other international literary contests. Recent and forthcoming venues include Grain Magazine, The Ilanot Review, EcoTheo Review, The Inflectionist Review, The Blue Mountain Review, Up the Staircase Quarterly, Psaltery & Lyre, Heavy Feather Review, Action, Spectacle, TIMBER, Skylight 47, Pinhole Poetry, Jarnal (Mason Jar Press), Ballerini Book Press, Astrolabe, Same Faces Collective, Bacopa Literary Review, Sweet Literary, Harpy Hybrid, Ballast, Emerge Literary Journal, Stone Circle Review, ONE ART Poetry, Feral, Salò Press, The Amethyst Review, Ice Floe Press, Black Bough Poetry, Cable Street, and Sunday Mornings at the River, among others.

She is the author of the hybrid collaboration In The Blueprint of Her Iris (Ice Floe Press, 2025), the full-length collection Where Sands Run Finest (DarkWinter Press, 2024), the chapbook The Art of Glass Houses (Alien Buddha Press, 2022), and the micro-chapbook Dusklight Through The Dogwood Bower (Origami Poems, 2023). A winner of the Black Bough Poetry Collection Contest 2024, she has a book forthcoming with the press, and was also a Black Bough Silver Branch featured poet in June 2025. A longtime interdisciplinary artist, her writing, voice and music have featured on audio collaborations and podcasts. She serves as a contributing editor at The Winged Moon Magazine and guest edited the Ice Floe Press hybrid series ‘Process-Marginalia-Otherworlds’.

You can keep upto date with Vikki’s work using the following;

Linktree: linktr.ee/vikki_c._author

Social Media:
X: VWC_Writes
Instagram: vikkic.author
Bluesky: vikkicwrites.bsky.social
Soundcloud: Vikki C. Music

Buy Vikki’s books using the links below:

In the Blueprint of Her Iris (Ice Floe Press, 2025)
Where Sands Run Finest (DarkWinter Press, 2024)
The Art of Glass Houses (Alien Buddha Press, 2022)
Dusklight Through The Dogwood Bower (Origami Poems, 2023)

I am extremely grateful to be sharing a few poems of Vikki’s over the next month. It’s always a privelige when poets trust me to share work. For Vikki’s first poem, I have selected the incredible piece, ‘Morningfall’.

If you missed the news on Social Media last week, you may be unaware that Vikki’s poem ‘Morningfall’ was nominated by me for the Forward Prize.

Today, I’m sharing Vikki’s 2nd poem, Again, Ithaca. This is a poem rich in language, physicality and metaphor.

I can’t believe how fast this month is flying by. Here we are on World Poetry Day. This is Vikki’s final piece for her Poetic Feature. I’d strongly recommend you read more of her work. Check out her links above. Anyway, for World Poetry Day, this is ‘There’s the idea of prayer and the idea of us’. Again, tremendous use of metphor.

I hope you’ve enjoyed Vikki C’s feature which includes her Forward-nominated ‘Morningfall’.

Until next time, enjoy poetry, celebrate poets. It’s what the world needs…

Paul

The Book Bag: The Liminal Light Of The Night by Carmella de Keyser

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

I’ve had a great week. On Sunday just after sharing my thoughts on Merril D. Smith’s book, I saw two deer running just in front of my house, a doe and an infant. Then my wife and I did a spot of shopping and enjoyed a delicious pub lunch. On Monday we visited The Laing Art Gallery which currently has an exhibition on Miniature Landscapes including work from the original Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Excellent.

We also celebrated my Mother-In- Law’s birthday & retirement with a couple of meals and a delicious cake. Then everybody saw the wonderful full moon, Brody got extra walks just so I could gaze up.

The allotment is taking proper shape now. We have spread woodchip over most of the ground for pathways. This will enrich the ground which will enrich our produce. Also, we’ve planted our fruit bushes in the cage, including a black raspberry which I’m looking to try.

We took a lovely autumnal stroll on Friday, the trees providing a riot of colour.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

The Liminal Light Of The Night

Poet: Carmella de Keyser
Press: Hedgehog Poetry Press

Carmella is an incredible poet and human being. Her work always has a deep emotional value that connects with readers.

This prize-winning pamphlet is a combination of stellar poetry and stunning art. Each perfectly placed in order. The poems play out in that space between light and dark, the space where where life is really lived. The artwork has been carefully curated enhancing the terrific writing.

Emotion is at the forefront of poetry in this book. We look at grief in the poem ‘I Count All Things As Loss’ which is a memoir that takes you on an authentic journey, both rough and smooth. No line or image feels like a cliche in this piece. ‘The Everlasting Exile’ is another piece teeming with power and physicality which ends perfectly.

Imagery and metaphor play an integral role in the pamphlet. The poem ‘An Odyssey Through You’ is an exquisite piece (one of my favourites) that is inventive yet feels classic. ‘Dark-Haired Girl’ is a vivid, immersive piece using multi-sensory elements to fully bring to life the words from page into reality.

The language in the book is sublime and each piece has a formidable lyrical quality. Carmella’s use of free verse benefits the words on the page as does the rhyming structure achieved in the piece ‘Bury Me Deep’ which creates a river’s motion.

This is a wonderful collection of poetry complemented by artwork from Vanya Milanova that showcases the human condition. The vivid imagery and journeys these pieces take you on will appeal to many poetics. A real gem of a book.

Favourite Poem:

I’ll choose a few to accompany ‘An Odyssey Through You’ so let me add ‘To The Strangers’, ‘The Closure Of The Dark’ and ‘I Count All Things As Loss’.

To read more about Carmella, click here.

To buy The Liminal Light Of The Night, click here.

You’re looking for a playlist to read along to? Well I’ve curated a small selection of songs that I think work well with the pamphlet;

Bon Iver – Holocene
Joni Mitchell – Hejira
Nick Drake – River Man
Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
Train – Drops of Jupiter
Tom Petty – Learning To Fly
Tracy Chapman – Fast Car
Mumford & Sons – The Cave

Before I Go…

Black Bough Poetry are hosting one of their tremendously supportive open mics on Wednesday 12^th November. Audience tickets are still available here.

One More Thing…

If you haven’t already caught up Rebecca Goss’s feature as The Book Bag: Bag: Poetic Voice for November, read it here. This is another poem being added on Wednesday so make sure to bookmark the post, so you don’t miss out.

And Another…

There’s less than two weeks to submit ideas for the festive period to The Book Bag’s Christmas List. This is a way to support favourite poets, presses and fellow poetics in sharing with the wider poetry community. Details here.

And Finally…

The tremendously talented Stephen Paul Wren is hosting an online reading of work from his recently released title with Parlyaree Press, ‘Blood Women’ on Thursday 13^th November. Details and tickets here.

Next Week’s Read

Title: Fourth & Walnut
Poet: Jeremy Over

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Wonderful by Harry Baker

Well the week started well and continued in the same vein. Sunday saw us head back to the allotment (and me saw down a rosemary tree that was starting to push onto the greenhouse) while the weather held off, then I attended the online launch of Merril D. Smith’s new collection, I signed a contract extension at work, saw some meteor action and I harvested our garden crop of Jack-be-little pumpkins.

I also found time to write what I think is one of my best pieces of the year, sent off a submission, and realised I’d lost edits my on a poem I really like. I’ve also started planning for 2026.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Wonderful

Poet: Harry Baker
Press: Burning Eye Books

Harry Baker feels like a poet who doesn’t need an introduction, a superstar poetry performer and previous champion of the World Poetry slam, with a huge following and profile who is a genuinely decent human being.

One of Harry’s superpowers is his ability to inject humour and heart into his poetry. The collection is filled with upbeat, warm and funny poems. I found myself smiling while reading pieces including ‘An Ode To Postcodes’ especially the line on NE1 (a Newcastle postcode) and ‘Things I Learned from Interrailing’.

The book balances the joy and happiness with reflections on serious matters. The poem, ‘Trying’ really hit me hard and in my opinion is such an important piece from a males perspective. Beneath the humour and metaphor, the book explores themes including masculinity in the piece ‘Wellies’ and coming to terms with mortality in the excellent ‘Sunflowers’.

Another of Harry’s strengths is his wordplay and punnery. One of my favourite poems of the collection, ‘Sticky Toffee Pudding’ does this incredibly well. As a performance poet, Harry can identify and incorporate language that will both work well with live audiences and on the page itself.

In terms of form, there are rhyme pieces, free verse, list poems and a few interesting styles, one that I had not encountered before which I may attempt. ‘As’ which is written with the Macao constraint, the poem ‘Ingrid’ (another of my favourites) is a univocalic using only the letter ‘I’. A very impressive piece.

The variety in this collection gives it a wide appeal to readers who are or aren’t already familiar with Harry Baker. If you like a poetry collection that makes you feel happy and warm inside, this is a book for you. If you like clever wordplay, this is a book for you. Wonderful is a charming, engaging book that brought me joy (I wrote that in the section of the book that allows you to record what brings you joy).

Favourite Poem:
I’ve mentioned ‘Sticky Toffee Pudding’ and ‘Ingrid’ as favourites already but I’ll also add in ‘Home’, ‘Trying’, ‘A Bed Shop Called Dreamland’ and ‘Wonderful’. To be fair the poems in this book are all exceptional.

If you want to learn more about Harry Baker click here. Also, I would recommend following his Instagram account.

You can buy Wonderful here.

Are you looking for the playlist? You are, aren’t you? Well, here it is, a happy eclectic mix to listen to alongside reading Wonderful.

Pharrell Williams – Happy
OutKast – Hey Ya
Len – Steal My Sunshine
The Cardigans – Lovefool
Björk – It’s Oh So Quiet
Eminem – Mockingbird
P!nk – Get The Party Started
Will Smith – Getting Jiggy With It
Taio Cruz – Dynamite
Michael Giacchino – Theme From Mission Impossible
Marcus Mumford & Tom Howe – Ted Lasso Theme

Before I Go…
There’s less than a week left to submit to After poetry. Details here. An excellent opportunity to be published on a highly respected platform.

One More Thing…
There’s still time to submit your gothic pieces to Broken Spine Art’s callout for an anthology being published in 2026. Details here.

And Another…
Remember to help boost your favourite poets and presses this festive season by sending over details for the Christmas Gifts Guide that will be published at the end of November. Details here.

And Another…
Ice Floe Press are now open for submissions until November 18^th on the areas of Process / Marginalia / Otherworld. Full details here.

And Another…
A new Poetic Voice will be coming to The Book Bag from Saturday. Catch up with October’s Poetic Voice, the exceptional Carson Wolfe here.

And Finally…
I’m enjoying reading for Frazzled Lit, a reminder that the submission window is still open until Friday October 31^st 2025. Details are here, send your best work.

Next Week’s Read

Title: Held Inside The Folds Of Time
Poet: Merril D. Smith

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Somewhere A Tree Waits For An Angel Or A Butterfly

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

It has been a busy week this week. I think all my hard work and schedule has caught up as my department starts to quieten down.

We planted the onion and shallot sets at the allotment and have been able to dig over the fruit cage thoroughly. All the raised beds are now ready for use. We’ve planted green manure too. Progress is steady.

My nephew turned 18 and we celebrated with food and drinks in Northumberland. I can’t believe where that time has gone.

In terms of poetry, I’ve had a great week. I found out that I was shortlisted in the Katrina Collins Poetry Prize and will appear in the anthology alongside incredible poets which is a huge honour. Congratulations to everyone else who was nominated and to the winners.

Also Write Here, Right Now happened on Thursday and was excellent as always. Did every attendee get played in on my saxophone? Yes! Several of the pieces I have worked on in group or had feedback on have been sent out for submissions and results are positive and I’m adding value to my writing.

I’ve also been able to read some pieces for Frazzled Lit Issue 4. There is lots of talent out there.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Somewhere a Tree Waits For An Angel Or A Butterfly

Poet: Eileen Carney Hulme
Press: Hedgehog Press

I’ve been lucky enough to speak with Eileen over social media for some time. Eileen has been very supportive of my own poetry and is a big advocate of The Book Bag. I’ve also shared pages in anthologies with Eileen and always look forward to reading her work. She is by all accounts lovely and sent me a handwritten note giving me the background behind the book.

Somewhere a Tree Waits For An Angel Or A Butterfly was published in 2024 by Hedgehog Press after winning the inaugural Crimson Spine competition. And, after reading the poems inside it’s hardly surprising.

Eileen’s strength is creating tremendous imagery that elevate the poems from the page into the mind. Pieces including ‘Choosing A Stone’ and ‘A Smudge of Love’ are great examples of this.

Place and memory play an integral role in the pamphlet. The poems ‘Reverberations’ and ‘Illusions’ (one of my favourites) both take readers to the beach evoking different emotions through lived experience. The piece ‘Afterlife’ is incredibly moving and full of love.

Eileen’s use of language is precise and sharp yet simultaneously soft and delicate. ‘Sweet Time’ demonstrates this impeccably with the form used adding an extra dimension to the piece. The piece ‘Damp Shaped Us’ is another exemplary poem.

This is a pamphlet that will appeal to readers who appreciate the journey that love can take you on. The imagery and language in this book is beautiful and poems last long in the heart, especially ‘Lovers’ and ‘Afterlife’. It would make a beautiful gift.

Favourite poem: I’ve already mentioned ‘Illusions’ and ‘Afterlife’. Here are another five; ‘Somewhere A Tree Waits For An Angel Or A Butterfly’, ‘Lovers’, ‘What’s Left Behind’, ‘If You Could Go Anywhere’ and ‘When You Wake’.

To find out more about Eileen click here.

To buy Somewhere A Tree Waits For An Angel Or A Butterfly, send Eileen a message here.

You didn’t think I’d forget the playlist did you? This is my eclectic selection to accompany the pamphlet:

Tina Turner – What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Sixpence None the Richer – Kiss Me
Semisonic – Secret Smile
Scarlet – Independent Lovesong
Queen – Somebody To Love
Chris Rea – The Beach
Oasis – Wonderwall
Sam Smith – Latch
James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover

Before I Go…

On Monday I’ll be sharing another piece from this month’s Poetic Voice, Carson Wolfe. If you haven’t read the feature yet, click here and bookmark.

One More Thing…

Louise Longson’s Last Saturday Poets is on 25^th October 2025 and the line up is incredible. Tickets are free and the event starts at 7pm. Details here.

And Another…

With Christmas coming soon, I was thinking of doing a post about potential poetry book gifts people could buy for loved ones, friends and even for their work ‘Secret Santa’ however as something a little different, I’d love input from you all. I’ll be posting a link to the full details next weekend as to how you can be involved.

And Finally…

Atrium Poetry is open for a week long submission window from Monday 13^th October 2025. Details will be available on their website from Monday. Send your work (read the submission guidelines first!).

Next Week’s Read

Title: A Wide River Divides Us
Poet: Gill Barr

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Why I Wear My Past To Work by Chris Campbell

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

I’ve probably asked this about 437 times this week, but how is it October?

I’ve had quite the rollercoaster this week. Sunday morning was spent at the allotment, making a bulb lasagne. Hopefully come spring, we’ll have some lovely pastels flowering. Fingers crossed!

I also saw Newcastle get (undeservedly) beat by Arsenal. But then we bounced back with a Champions League win. It was also the 2nd anniversary of getting Brody. We celebrated by giving him toys and treats. Unfortunately, the weather put pay to our planned walk.

Wednesday was the launch of this month’s Poetic Voice feature and I’m thrilled that Carson agreed to take part. If you’ve not read the first part already, catch up here. Thursday was National Poetry Day on the theme of ‘Play’. I shared a small piece on social media. I’ve also added it here with my TopTweetTuesday entry.

Also, this week I’ve sent off several submissions and had some good news. You may remember my poem ‘Laundry Day’ was accepted and published by Dust Poetry Magazine (link here), well I’m beside myself, because it has been nominated for a Best Of The Net award. I’d like to say thanks to Dust for trusting in my work and congratulations to all other nominees.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Why I Wear My Past To Work

Poet: Chris Campbell
Press: Parlyaree Press

This is Chris Campbell’s second appearance in The Book Bag. He is back with a bang in Why I Wear My Past To Work, a collection that spans recovery from illness, family, relationships and life. There is definite evolution in this collection from All Island, No Sea. I was lucky to be part of his online launch a couple of weeks ago. If you get a chance to hear him read, take it. His voice carries real weight and emotion.

One of Chris’ main strengths is his sharp observation. He can immerse a reader in a scene or situation that feels relatable rather than forced. Poems such as ‘Five Schoolboys Pick Pyracantha’, ‘The Sea Steals Our Picnic Blanket’, ‘The Meadow, Dugdale Avenue, 1993’ and ‘Revellers Howl In The Fine Hours’ excel in this vein. The piece ‘Cold Crooks By This Fire Pit’ made me think of ‘Hippy Green’ behind Old Eldon Square in Newcastle.

The pieces relating to Chris’s recovery are at times harrowing and at times funny. ‘Today I Can’t Speak’ is compact yet compelling. ‘In The Queue At Bristol Royal Infirmary’ is a darkly funny piece that is so relatable to anyone who’s spent time in an A&E and one of my favourites. Poems including ‘After Leaving The Ward’ and ‘Holed Up After Hunting For A Gift’ also highlight Chris’ spirit, resilience and the journey he has been on. In these pieces we are seeing Chris at his most vulnerable.

The pieces in this collection which address his relationship with his family are delicate and authentic. Poems including ‘Day Trip, 2000’, ‘You Are Here, Grandad, In This Mute Playpark’ (which left me in a flood of tears) and ‘Bin Workers Wake You’ are all perfect examples of this across a scale of emotion. ‘My Son Grows as I Regress’ is a tremendously thoughtful and moving piece.

Aside from family relationships, Chris connects with everyone, he is after all a genuinely decent human being. I must the poem ‘I Drown During An Awards Do As The Queen Dies’ where Chris confronts a former soldier who is spouting bigoted diatribe. The piece ‘How This Cuban Shop Serves Pachanga’ is a lovely poem on community full of sensory imagery. We need more Chris Campbell’s in the world.

In terms of form, Chris uses a variety throughout including couplets in ‘A Helping of Sand After University’, compared to the flow of single-versed ‘Our Date Night Will Be Ponchos In January’. In ‘I am The Man I Wanted To Be’ we are shown some neat, intricate internal rhyme along with honest introspection. I really enjoyed some of the surprising line breaks throughout the book especially in ‘There Is A Mortuary On The Horizon’.

This collection will appeal to poetry lovers who appreciate heartfelt poems from a masculine perspective that don’t border on cliche. Lovers of vivid imagery and sharp observations will appreciate the pieces throughout this book. These are poems to return to time and again, it feels like having a conversation with a friend who relishes family, friends and the small (and big) things in life. Also if you’re looking for gift inspiration for the forthcoming festivities, Why I Wear My Past to Work would make a great Christmas present.

Favourite Poem:

I have several favourites in this collection. I’ve already mentioned ‘In The Queue At Bristol Royal Infirmary’ so I’ll stick to another five as I’m writing. ‘Who Gave Our Kid Glitter Stickers’, ‘You Play The Violin On Your Mum’s Birthday’, ‘Shove Your 3-for-2 Flyer’, ‘Let Me Breathe Apricots’ and ‘Why I Wear My Past To Work’. I must also give a special mention to ‘Egg Lamp’s Verdict’. Oh and ‘Ode To The Pruning Woman Eaten by Vines’ is pretty special too.

To learn more about Chris, click here.

To buy Why I Wear My Past To Work click here.

And of course, it wouldn’t be The Book Bag without a playlist to accompany Chris’s collection, so here’s an eclectic selection to pair with the book…

Joni Mitchell – Both Sides Now
Florence & The Machine – Dog Days Are Over
Oasis – Songbird
Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
Miles Davis – Blue In Green
Yusuf Islam – Father & Son
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Three Little Birds
The Verve – Sonnet
Bill Withers – Lean On Me
Elton John – I’m Still Standing
Mumford & Sons – After The Storm
Portishead – Only You
Muddy Waters – Got My Mojo Working
Ralph Vaughan Williams – The Lark Ascending

Before I Go…

Frazzled Lit are open for free submissions throughout October. I am excited and honoured to be part of the reading panel which also includes Louise Machen and Val Roberts. Details and Guidelines here. Send your best work.

One More Thing…

Broken Spine Arts have another thematic callout for submissions, this time for gothic poetry to be included in ‘The Havisham Steps’ anthology. Details here.

And Another…

If you want to partake in a supportive and friendly open mic, The Book Bag Open Sessions: Session 1 is on Sunday 9^th November between 7 & 9pm (UK Time), via zoom. Share polished gems or roughcut coals. Or sit back and enjoy as an audience member. Details here.

And Finally…

Mark Anthony Owen’s excellent ‘After…’ journal is open for submissions throughout October looking for ekphrastic / after pieces. Full details here.

Next Week’s Read

Title: Somewhere A Tree Waits For An Angel Or A Butterfly
Poet: Eileen Carney Hulme

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

Paul

Poems for National Poetry Day 2025

It’s been a while since I added poems to the website, currently most are shared on social media or sent out for submissions before posting on my site however that will change as I want to spend time on my website, to cultivate and maybe archive some of my older pieces. That will come in the winter months when my job isn’t so busy.

With that in mind, I thought I’d share two recent poems, from this week. National Poetry Day was on Thursday 2nd October and the theme this year was ‘play’. So i thought I’d partake and write a piece specifically for the day itself. I was already writing a different piece for the incredible weekly TopTweetTuesday poetry share on Twitter/X of the same theme, but using a ‘nonet’ nonetheless. If you’ve read much of my work, you’ll know I don’t do much writing in determined forms but I am always looking to improve my practise.

These are the two pieces which I’ve shared this week.

Poem 1: Written for TopTweetTuesday using ‘Play’ as the theme, with ‘nonet’ chosen for form.

Entertaining Brody 

Claret-tip ivory arcing claws 
signifying his excitement— 
tongue barrel-rolls between barks, 
snout snozzleshifts in air, 
conker marble eyes 
dart to his ball, 
legs scramble. 
Wait. Wait. 
Fetch.

Poem 2: Written specifically for National Poetry Day 2025.

Breathless

Slightest drift of fingertips 
glance across pearl—
seal with soft-stroke lips,
press, 

blow.

I hope you enjoyed these small pieces.

Stay Poetic,
Paul

Featured Image by Ben Hershey on Unsplash

The Book Bag: This Wilderness & Other Concerns by Martin Kennedy Yates

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

Does anybody else feel the weeks are getting busier? Work is at its peak currently and I’m loving overcoming the challenges it’s presenting. Unfortunately, because the of the weather I haven’t been able to get to the allotment, however I have been able to relax to some incredible jazz and soul and the playlist further down the page, I even dabbled with my sax a little. Newcastle were unlucky not to get a point from the Barcelona game but it was Barcelona. Poetry-wise I’ve drafted some pieces, done some editing, started a submission piece and decided to host an open mic. More details on the open mic coming soon.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

This Wilderness & Other Concerns

Poet: Martin Kennedy Yates
Press: Broken Spine Arts

Martin Kennedy Yates blew my mind at an open mic the first time I heard his reading of a Scousenlish poem, I became a big fan immediately. That was a while ago and I’ve kept up with his writing ever since. When he was announced as the winner of Broken Spine Art’s collection contest I was on tenterhooks for his debut release. And here we are. This Wilderness & Other Concerns is a book that showcases Martin’s ability, knowledge and interests outstandingly. The sections are This Wilderness which is a response to The Wasteland a hundred years on, Other Concerns which take a view on place to politics and, Scousenlish.

Martin is deft at peeling back the mirage of city life revealing and exploring what lies beneath, both the dark and the funny of which there is plenty in in this book. This is portrayed in the opening poem ‘A Time For Dying’ where we are taken on a tour of the city and bump into Kevin King Carpet-fitter of Kidderminster and his passion for Caliban. This continues in ‘All The World’s A Stage’ and throughout the collection.

One of Martin’s strengths is his knowledge of and use of language to expand the poem from the page into immersive imagery that you can cling to. ‘/Pylon\ Shed’ is a terrific poem of sketching out a memory on to page for readers to share in the scene through multi-sensory detail. Another piece ‘Fabric’, compares contrasting scenes immensely.

Emotion is etched into the poems in this book on a wide spectrum. ‘Overheard On The Wind’ is a tour de force in emotive poetry where the reader is treated to a whole host of feelings across the pages. I was breathless after reading it and was an incredible closing poem to section one. ‘Martyr’ is a fantastic compact piece that teems with bite.

I’ve spoken about Martin’s use of language above, however, I must give a second shoutout for the full Scousenlish (described as Martin’s alter ego) section of the book which inspired by Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Read it aloud with measured cadence and the understanding of the words will fall seamlessly in your mind.

So I’ve talked about language twice. Martin is also a master of shaping and use of space to focus the reader on the message and narrative of his poetry. ‘The Murmurations’ is (one of my favourite pieces) an excellent display of the use of space and shaping to focus the reader but also give movement to the poem.

This is a book with broad appeal. Incredible language, wonderful imagery and an emotional undercurrent flow like the river through the city. Readers who want a modern take on The Wasteland will love this book. This is a collection that will make you pause and reflect throughout. A tremendous debut, I look forward to seeing what Martin does next. Buy it now, it will make a great literary Christmas gift.

Favourite Poem:
I’ve already mentioned The Murmurations. Let’s add another five if I use the entire ‘Scousenlish’ section to count as one. Then there’s ‘Pathos’, ‘Hope’’, ‘Drowned Rats and Sinking Ships’ and ‘Devotee’.

Buy This Wilderness & Other Concerns here or reach out to Martin on on social media to buy a signed copy direct which comes with a bookmark containing a bonus poem which is what I did.

Want a playlist to read along to? Well here’s an eclectic selection to accompany the book;

The Who – My Generation
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Beverley Knight – Greatest Day
UB40 – Can’t Help Falling In Love
Kelly & Ozzy Osbourne – Changes
Duran Duran – Hungry Like The Wolf
The Streets – Has It Come To This?
Vivaldi – L’Inverno
Dexys Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen
The Moody Blues – I’m Just A Singer
Boney M – Rivers of Babylon
Blur – This Is A Low

Before I Go…

Have you read Pascale Petit’s feature yet? Read it here and keep your eyes peeled for a mini review of Beast in this coming week.

One More Thing…

The Winged Moon are hosting an online launch for Biophilia on Friday 26 September 2025 at 6pm (UK time). The lineup looks incredible. Email thewingedmoonmagazine@gmail.com to grab a ticket.

And Another…

Broken Spine Arts have launched a new initiative being spearheaded by Karen Pierce Gonzalez ( Author of Down River With Li Po) called #NotJustPretty and kicks off with a 90 minute literary open mic and showcase aimed at amplifying women’s voices. Details of the initiative can be found here.

And Finally…

Marcelle Newbold shared details of a competition she is co-judging on Instagram this week with some excellent prizes on offer. Walking ‘In The Dark’ closes on Monday 20th October 2025. Details here.

Next Week’s Read

Title: Drench Me In Silver
Poet: Saraswati Nagpal

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Husband Material Vol II: Twenty-Seven Addresses by D. L. Husband

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

I’ve had an incredibly busy week. Work is constant now but that’s what I like. I feel satisfied every day when I’m finished because I know I’ve worked hard and contributed to the team and company.

I attended an excellent open mic last Sunday evening, you can read about it here, on Friday I read at the launch of Chris Campbell’s new book ‘Why I Wear My Past To Work’ which I feel truly grateful to have been invited to take part. Somehow, I wrote a couple of good pieces too (in my opinion anyway).

At the allotment, preparing for winter in full flow. We had a ton of compost delivered on Saturday. Getting it from the drop off bay, into wheelbarrows then to our plot was exhausting.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Husband Material Vol II: Twenty-Seven Addresses

Poet: D. L. Husband
Press: Hidden Hand Press

Husband Material Vol II: Twenty-Seven Addresses is my first time reading D.L. ‘Dan’ Husband in a collection. He featured on the same episode of BBC Upload with me hosted by the fantastic Emma Millen. I’ve watched his Instagram of performances of spoken word at fringe events and elsewhere. I also checked out some of his published work online and I’m a fan. It’s always great to share work from Northeast poets. Let’s jump into the collection.

There is power in Dan’s poems, sometimes understated and restrained sometimes unflinching. The pieces ‘Demolition Man’ and ‘Reaper Man’ are two examples of how to add impact but in various ways. I must also mention the title poem from the collection ‘Twenty-Seven Addresses’ which is a hybrid of prose and sequence that feels like a worthwhile mandate. I relate to this piece in so many ways and is one of my favourite pieces.

Every piece in this collection teems with emotion. It deals with key themes that working-class men deal with daily: , identity, challenging stereotypes and perceptions, personal struggles with addiction and standing out from the crowd you belong to. ‘Buffet’ is a terrific example of this and uses visual spacing that mimics the movement he describes. ‘Give A What?’ is a direct address to the reader and pulls no punches. This is meaningful poetry.

I like pop culture references in poetry when they make sense which is something Dan uses, keeping the work relatable. In ‘Ghostbusters’ we are treated to a cameo from Gozer, Venkman and Spengler. In ‘3D Printed Dinosaur Bones’, Mothra and Godzilla make an appearance. One thing he doesn’t do is use a reference for the sake of it or overuse.

Imagery weaves its way through the collection. This is demonstrated in ‘The Moon Watches On’ where we are hurtled through space and time to understand what the moon has observed since it came into being.

Dan’s skill in spoken word composition is evident in the rhyming patterns and structured shifts in the pieces. Read them aloud. Another key detail is the intricate and clever wordplay he uses. The piece ‘Blameless Blaggard’ is a great demonstration of this.

This is a collection for poetry fans who want to be confronted with truth, sometimes brutal. Fans of spoken word, clever wordplay and rhyme will enjoy this book. Readers who want to explore recovery through words, this will appeal to you. A deep, dark intimate book. I’ll be grabbing a copy of volume I very soon.

Keep up with Dan here.

To buy Husband Material Vol II: Twenty-Seven Addresses, click here.

Favourite Poem:

This week I’ll go for five. I’ve already mentioned ‘Twenty-Seven Addresses’ but the following four have also stuck in my head. ‘Border War’, ‘The Old Beast’, ‘Fairy Trials’ and ‘Ananke’.

Oh, and here’s this week’s playlist, you didn’t think I’d forget:

Little Roy – Lithium
Massive Attack – Teardrop
Oasis – Cigarettes and Alcohol
Maximo Park – Risk to Exist
Eels – Novocaine For The Soul
Tom Petty – Free Fallin’
Underworld – Born Slippy
Fatboy Slim – Weapon Of Choice
Sam Fender – Play God
Robbie Williams – Better Man

Before I Go…

Did you catch the details of The Book Bag X Write Here, Right Now submission window and guidelines? A terrific chance to get published and potentially be nominated for awards including BOTN, Pushcart & Forward. Details here.

One More Thing…

Alan Parry will be on hosting duties for another Broken Spine Arts ‘Write The Night’ workshop on 28 September 2025. I have attended this in the past and found it extremely useful and highly recommend it. Details here.

And Another…

If you’ve been following The Book Bag for a while, you will know that I am a massive fan of Helen Laycock. She is this month’s poet on Black Bough’s Silver Branch feature. Read it here.

And Finally…

Have you had chance to catch up with this month’s Poetic Voice? Pascale Petit has shared a piece from Beast. Keep an eye on social media for a further addition to the feature…

Next Week’s Read

Title: This Wilderness & Other Concerns
Poet: Martin Kennedy Yates

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

Paul

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Paul Writes Poems

The Poetry, Writing and Thoughts of Paul Adam Short

life

The Book Bag: Hatchery by Elizabeth Osmond

The Book Bag: Cherry Blossom At Nightbreak by Rishi Dastidar

The Book Bag: Poetic Voices – March 2026

The Book Bag: The Liminal Light Of The Night by Carmella de Keyser

The Book Bag: Wonderful by Harry Baker

The Book Bag: Somewhere A Tree Waits For An Angel Or A Butterfly

The Book Bag: Why I Wear My Past To Work by Chris Campbell

Poems for National Poetry Day 2025

The Book Bag: This Wilderness & Other Concerns by Martin Kennedy Yates

The Book Bag: Husband Material Vol II: Twenty-Seven Addresses by D. L. Husband