Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.
It’s scary how fast the weeks are going by.
On Friday I attended an open mic and discussion held at Jesmond Library hosted by Len Pennie. I find my reading is becoming much better with each performance. I read Gravity Is A Force You Took For Granted and The Importance of Buoyancy. I also bought Len’s new book and got it signed.
Over at the allotment, things are starting to flourish with greenery and the bulbs are blooming. I fitted a brassica cage ready for planting out in a few week’s time. It was still standing the following day despite the wind.
I spent some time relaxing with my vinyls throughout the week. I keep returning to Coltrane by Coltrane. An exceptional album. The jazz of that period is quite simply magnificient.
Christine and I watched a terrific one woman show on YouTube. It was by Eden Sher who played the character Sue Heck in The Middle. The show was really moving, happy and sad.
On top of that, I’ve been reading;
Neon Manila
Poet: Troy Cabida
Press: Nine Arches Press
The major strength in this book is the observation of different relationships. ‘My Daddy Baby’ examines dynamics and expectations in a relationship. In ‘Body Poem’, power dynamics are explored again but with a different perspective. One of my favourites is ‘Brighton Beach’ which combines excellent imagery and realistic, youthful personality. Another piece that caught my attention is ‘No One Wants What I Want’ which discusses an affair and the aftermath in a matter-of-fact way. ‘Symmetric’ was another of my favourite relationship pieces in the collection, exploring how an object can represent so much.
Excerpt from Body Poem
Several of the pieces use objects, often clothing, as metaphor which is something everybody does albeit mainly subconciously. The piece ‘Yellow Jacket I’ deals with desire and sensitivity all at once. The opening poem, ‘Order No: #UK65388’ is a smart piece on aspiration, it made me think of a friend I have who has an affinity for luxury watches and how they make him feel.
Discrimination is dealt with throughout in several ways. The poem ‘Race Riots Are Currently On The Way’ has humour but with an underlying unease. ‘You Walked Into School Wearing Your Mother’s Heels’ is a poem that shows resilience in the face of adversity. Resilience is a thread throughout the book and is done well and without cliche.
Excerpt from race riots are currently on the way.
There is a vulnerability and intimacy amongst the poems. ‘A Good Boy’, ‘Afterglow’ and ‘You (derogatory)’ are just a few examples of this. Throughout, it is heart on the sleeve poetry. I will say the piece ‘Thalassophobia’ shook me and I had to take a break from reading. Extremely powerful writing.
City life plays a key role in the book. The final piece ‘I Invoke The Spirit of Sarah Harris While Shopping For My Next Pair of Jeans’ is a piece that takes us on a tour of a London High Street and identity and the way the scene is set through vivid, relatable imagery you do become immersed in London life. Title poem ‘Neon Manila’ is a sprawling piece that covers multiple cities and countries looking at intimacy, vulnerability and culture with razor sharp insight.
Fans of form will savour this collection with a variety of different styles on display. ‘Black Turtleneck Sonnet’ (one of my favourites) is a multilayered piece that explores security, desire and control. The use lyrical language combined with couplets in ‘I Say I Am Myself’ gives the poem the right amount of space to breathe and move. There are excellent uses of space in ‘Slowed + Reverb’ and ‘Desiring’ plus many other pieces again giving the words room to make their mark.
This is an excellent collection of poetry that deals with many important themes in an inventive and clever way. Neon Manila will appeal to fans of punchy poetry with light and shade and a sense of vulnerability. If you read poetry for form, this collection will appeal. In my opinion Neon Manila is a tremendous book navigating modern life, keeping your head held high and finding out how to be yourself. Add it to your poetry library.
Favourite Poem:
I’ve already mentioned ‘Symmetric’ , ‘Black Turtleneck Sonnet’ and ‘Brighton Beach’. I could add so many but as of writing, I’ll stick to the handful that are in my mind right now. ‘Friends With Freudian Theory of Inversion’, ‘On Normativity’, ‘Both Wrists Silvered, Watch Me Deflect’, ‘Pearls In A Thumbprint Bowl’ and ‘Bone Cuff’.
Visit the Nine Arches Press Store and buy Neon Manila here.
You’ve come this far, you may as well check out the playlist and what else is going on. This week’s mix is a quirky blend of old and new.
Sabrina Carpenter – Cappuccino ABBA- Angeleyes Marilyn Monroe – Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend Pharell Williams – Marilyn Monroe Dua Lipa – Levitating Troye Sivan – Bloom Deep Blue Something – Breakfast at Tiffany’s Audrey Hepburn – Moon River Thelonious Monk – ‘Round Midnight The Weeknd – Blinding Lights Bruno Mars – Treasure Hilary Duff – All About You
Before I Go…
Tickets for the online celebration and launch of Unwhispered Legacy are free here. Join me and a host of incredible poets on Friday May 1st. The lineup is released this week. Keep an eye on social media.
One More Thing…
Black Bough Poetry’s eagerly anticipated Shored Fragments anthology is coming out very soon. Edited by Matthew MC Smith and Kitty Donnelly, the pieces have been written in response to The Wasteland by TS Eliot. Keep an eye on Black Bough social media for details.
And Another…
Dust Poetry are open for submissions until 17 May. There is no theme and submission guidelines can be found on their website. They are an incredible magazine and I would encourage you to send your best work.
And Finally…
I’m delighted to be able to share the exciting news about my inclusion on Wave 3 of The Whiskey Tree. I’m in such great company and really value the opportunity. I’ve already started working on my pieces and can’t wait to share them.
Next Week’s Read
Title: Cherry Blossom At Nightbreak
Poet: Rishi Dastidar
Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week.
Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.
What an eventful week!
On Wednesday, Eleanor Holmes became the newest featured poet in The Book Bag: Poetic Voices series. Read part one here. It is jam-packed with greatness.
Before that, on Tuesday, Unwhispered Legacy was launched into the world. Raising money for Médecins Sans Frontières, the anthology can be downloaded from its dedicated webpage here. If you feel you are able to donate, all proceeds go to MSF and would be greatly appreciated. If you’re a UK taxpayer, you can also add gift aid which means they will receive further funds. I’m super proud of this anthology.
Also, this week I visited my parents and took another trip to Barter Books — one of the best second-hand bookshops you’re likely to ever see.
I have also been able to get over to the allotment and plant our potatoes. It was good to see some of our flowers beginning to bloom and the fruit trees flowering. I’m looking forward to harvesting some produce.
On top of that I’ve been reading;
Strike
Poet: Sarah Wimbush
Press: Stairwell Books
A few weeks ago, I visited Woodhorn Museum, a mining museum built on the site of a former working colliery in Northumberland. Aside from the tremendous immersive and interactive exhibit, they also house a poignant and moving collection of photography titled Coal Town by the social documentarian Mik Critchlow. I must also thank Jenny from the museum for her insight.
It was that visit that prompted me to seek out a Strike, a book I’d seen in poetry press (shortlisted for the Forward prize in 2024) but hadn’t read. Lucky for me I found a copy of Strike online.
This book is a mixture of poetry based on the mining strikes that took place across the UK in the 1984 with photography from the time. The spectre of the pit closures still haunts communities across the UK.
Sarah Wimbush does not hold back against the power players in either side of the strike. The pieces ‘Thatcher’, ‘Kinnock’ and ‘Scargill’ are portraits that sum up their sensibilities, aptitude and attitudes without caricaturing. ‘This Is The BBC’ highlights the poor reporting (putting it mildly) from the BBC and their commitment to representing the government narrative.
The landscape of 80’s Britain is brought to life through vivid language that adds colour to the pieces. Poems such as ‘Stop’, (one of my favourites), and ‘Picketing at Penrhiwceiber, are both terrific examples of this.
‘Strikebreaker’, ‘Berry Hill’ and ‘BASTARD NACOD SCABS’ give the readers glimpses into the attitudes to those who didn’t strike or crossed the picket line. ‘Silver Birch’ cleverly portrays Chris Butcher, a man backed by the Mail and businesses to try and break strikes.
Excerpt from Berry Hill
Pieces including ‘Coal Boy’ and ‘The Police, The Miners’ Wives, Their Children’ capture the reality of how families were affected by the strike and the aftermath. ‘Miners Leaning Forwards’ highlights the financial struggle that miners experienced when relying on hardship payments from the NUM.
The collection also shows the resilience of the women behind the men and how they took to the streets and organised too. One of my favourites in the collection, ‘Women Against Pit Closures’ is a testament to the women who rallied around and showed they were in the fight to.
There is an angry undercurrent throughout the book., however, we are regularly treated to humour throughout the book. The piece ‘Flat Cap’ is a satirical look into the future and how the common clothing item may be considered. The piece ‘Our Lady Of The Pit Canteen’ gives a smile as the achievements are minimised against the return of plates. The leaning into the Yorkshire dialect adds the authenticity which emphasises the humour further.
Form and style is played with throughout the book. It is an excellent display of ekphrastic poetry. The list poem ‘The Enemy’ is a cracking piece that brims with anger. In ‘Mounted Policeman Canters Towards Lesley Boulton’ the use of couplets gives the sense of urgency and danger.
This is a book that will appeal to those who like poetry of testimony, readers who may have been impacted by industrial action and those with an interest in major social and political events. It will appeal to poetics who appreciate various forms and styles. This book got under my skin – I’m sure it would resonate with many people my age who live close to a former pit, shipyard or steelworks. This is an important and powerful book that I highly recommend.
Favourite Poem: I’ve already mentioned ‘Stop’ and ‘Women Against Pit Closures’ and I could easily choose a lot more but the ones in mind today are ‘Standards’, ‘Pits and Perverts’, ‘People Who Support the Miners’ and ‘Kick-off’.
You can read more about Sarah and buy her book from Stairwell Books here.
This week’s playlist has a more serious edge to it in keeping with the themes of the book;
Grimethorpe Colliery Band – Gresford (The Miner’s Hymn) Frank Wilson – Do I Love You Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In The Dark The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead Manic Street Preachers – A Design for Life Sam Fender & Easington Colliery Band – Remember My Name Erasure – A Little Respect Test Dept – Shockwork Bronski Beat – Smalltown Boy The Clash – This is England Linton Kwesi Johnson – Fite Dem Back Desford Colliery Band – Share My Yoke
Before I Go… April’s Poetic Voice, Eleanor, is holding an online launch on Sunday 19th April. Hear Eleanor and a wonderful ensemble of poets celebrating #MOTH . Full details here.
One More Thing… Rachel Turney is launching her latest book Retired Wannabe Club Kid (published by Parlyaree Press) on Zoom on Friday 17th April at 6pm MST / 8pm EST. Details here.
And Another… On Friday 1st May, I’ll be hosting the zoom launch for Unwhispered Legacy. Starting at 7pm UK time, some of the brightest voices in contemporary poetry will be reading their pieces live. Tickets are free and you can register here.
And Finally… The Winged Moon is opening for submissions this coming week for both poetry and art to feature in their Substack issues planned for later in the year. Follow them on social media if you’re not already.
Next Week’s Read
Title: Joy Is My Middle Name
Poet: Sasha Debevec-McKenney
Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week.
Welcome to April’s Poetic Voice. Yes April! You won’t find any fools here though. You will find this month’s incredible poet.
I first encountered them on social media, responding to the same prompts as me. I was impressed by their language and their subject matter. It was at a couple of open mics I first heard their moth poems…
And this month’s feature is jam-packed. Not only do we have a selection of poems including pieces from their new pamphlet releasing in April but also an interview…
Without further ado, this month’s Poetic Voice is Eleanor Holmes.
Eleanor Holmes (previously writing as Eliot North) is a neurodivergent mother-doctor-writer of prose, poetry and hybrid. Originally from Bristol in the UK, she has spent her life exploring different cultures and countries, loves to collaborate with other creatives and has a life-long obsession with illustration, printmaking and beautiful handmade books. She lives with her son and husband in Valencian Country, Spain, and works as an NHS GP in Weston-super-mare. Widely published in print and on-line, she was commended in the National Poetry Competition 2014 and shortlisted for the Bridport Poetry Prize 2025. #Moth is her first hybrid collection.
For the first part of the feature, we have a piece from #Moth, which can be ordered from Ethel Zine here. The books are handmade and have an incredible quality to them as you can see from some of the images below. A massive round of applause for Ethel for the amount of effort they make in their publications.
Eleanor has also treated us to a recording of ‘Trap’, one of the poems from the collection which is accompanied by harp. Listen here.
This brings me to Eleanor’s first poem. Imperial. This is one of my favourites from the collection for its multi-sensory feel.
A Few Questions and Answers from Eleanor on her Writing Process
PS: Eleanor, what was the inspiration for #Moth?
EH: #Moth started life in a Tania Hershman workshop ‘Hybrid Writing: Unbox Your Words’ back in 2021. The whole course was focused on ‘hybridity’ in terms of theme as well as form.
Tania had us coming up with all sorts of ‘Chimera-like’ ideas, using scientific text exploring genetics and chimerism as inspiration, as well as myth and imagination. The idea for my main character ‘Vadoma’, a moth-woman hybrid, came from this start. Many of the poems in #Moth weave the natural history of moths with the personal narrative of my main character, with a sprinkling of magic realism.
Tania’s hybrid writing technique or ‘mash-up’ approach to different writing styles resonated with me. Taking scientific texts, adverts, images, shopping lists, fairytales, procedurals, forms (anything goes) and mash it, cut it up, splice it with something else entirely. I don’t like to be pigeon holed, in life and in my writing, and this approach made sense to my neurodivergent brain.
I’ve been both fascinated, and equally dismayed, by the language of medicine over the years. When I studied psychiatry as a student, terms like ‘word salad’, ‘knights move thinking’ and ‘flight of ideas’ that are used to describe formal thought disorder really got my brain humming. The idea of ‘punning and rhyming’, ‘pressure of speech’, use of ‘neologisms’ being a sign of mania or psychosis, and that looking for these formed part of the traditional Mental State Examination (MSE), really intrigued me as I thought to myself: these are all things I have experienced to some extent, they form the basis of so much creativity, performance, poetry particularly.
In saying this I don’t wish to minimise the impact of serious mental illness. I believe good psychiatric care and mental health service provision saves lives. It is more an observation that in medicine the ‘them and us’ narrative serves no one.
In writing #Moth I aimed to take the language of medicine apart; examine it and twist it to shine new light on it. I wanted to explore: ‘what is normal’ and examine the power imbalance inherent in the way medicine operates, and then I wanted to try and flip the narrative. Tania’s course provided me with both the inspiration and the hybrid writing techniques to start this process.
PS: What does your writing process typically look like?
EH: I call myself a ‘magpie writer,’ my brain is constantly looking for the next shiny thing to latch on to. Scraps of speech, my son and I walking to school is a fabulous source of material just now: a six-year-old’s imagination knows no bounds and veers between the delightfully surreal and completely matter of fact.
This chatter with my son and observing my surroundings, little things glimpsed in the everyday, like a cormorant gliding by on my walk home, or a pearlescent piece of shell on a beach keeps my creative brain buzzing. Living in Valencian Country in Spain, where my husband is from and my son was born, is a gift for a writer noticing the ‘unusual’ in my surroundings, immersed in a different culture, language and landscape. This combined with the endless mine of creative material that is my memory, especially of childhood, means the ideas never stop coming. Pinning them down, crafting them, that’s the tricky part.
I make notes on my phone when I’m walking, or when I get home, or before I go to sleep. I collect scraps of things and then try and make sense of them as a whole, stitching words together, moulding them into something new. There never is a ‘this is a poem’ or ‘prose piece’ in the way I approach writing these days, it tends to just come out like a block of text or stream of consciousness. Form, or thinking about form, tends to come later in the process, when I’m trying to make sense of what material I’ve got. That said, I wrote a sestina recently in a Kim Moore and Clare Shaw workshop, and it led me somewhere unexpected which was fun.
I’ve always been an outsider, as a child I was pretty much mute and always observing. I learned to mask this, to function ‘better’ in a world that expected more from me. In medicine I was definitely an outsider as well, but I found my tribe of other ‘odd ball’ creative medics along the way. It is only in perimenopause, and as a woman who gave birth later in life, that I’ve realised how much of the way my brain works and my inherent need to create, is linked to my own neurodivergent thinking.
PS: Your background is in medicine which requires a use of clinical language, how do you arrange the precise clinical language versus the poetical in your mind when crafting your work?
EH: This is a really interesting question, because often I don’t think my clinical language is precise. It clearly is in some ways, has to be, in that there is an expected way that clinicians communicate with each other and diagnosis at its core is based on communication and taking a ‘history’.
The whole language of western medicine, the historical context and assumptions, all the inherent problems I just discussed above are stitched into the way we communicate as clinicians. We learn this language from day one at medical school, and I’ve often said as a medical educator, through this process we almost teach students to become worse communicators as a result. A situation that then means you can spend your whole career attempting to undo that learned reductive way of thinking and speaking (or not, depending on the clinician!)
Now as an adult, living in a country where my mother tongue of English is not the spoken language of the day to day, I am learning first-hand how hard this is to navigate. The jumble in my brain is often utterly exhausting and many times my ability to communicate totally falls apart. Add to this my husband’s mother tongue is Valencian (Catalan) and I’m trying to learn Castilian (Spanish) at the same time, then all sorts of scales have fallen from my eyes, particularly about the privilege attached to being a white, native English speaker (but also the lack that being monolingual inherently represents.)
For me language, and so poetry, is playful. In my communication with patients as a GP, I have to actively check my use of ‘medical language’ or jargon when I’m speaking to people, these days mostly on the phone working remotely from Spain. This isn’t that hard to do these days; I find communicating with patients a real joy when I can match or mirror language used and explore shared experience and common ground. Creating connection and trust is one of the most, if not the most, important thing in my medical practice. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to achieve anything as a doctor, well nothing positive anyway.
So, to actually answer your question, I don’t think my clinical language is precise, or that my poetic language is not precise. In some ways maybe it’s the reverse? The two are inseparable. I find the poetic in medicine, because people are messy and endlessly surprising. Poetry is precise, condensed, intentional; much more so in some ways than my clinical language which has become like driving a car, or shorthand. Creative writing for me breathes life into my learned medical language, it allows me to play with it, see the possibilities outside the clinical, then hone and hone and hone to become something else entirely.
Words matter way more than we are given to believe at medical school. Poetry, amongst other things, has helped me to see this more clearly.
PS: What piece of advice would you give to poets?
EH: I would say don’t be too hung up on writing ‘poetry’, just write. That first outpouring on the page, and the flow state I find with creating anything, is such an absolute pleasure and catharsis for my busy brain. It doesn’t have to go further than this, but also it can!
There are many ways to approach poetry and creative writing, and there is as with any creative process, a craft to be learned. My advice, as so many have said before, is read, and read a lot! Read for pleasure but also start to take note and pull apart what someone is doing when you really connect with their work. This has helped me enormously to start to pay attention to what a writer is doing in a text and then thinking ‘how did they achieve this?’
For me attending lots of workshops with great writers I admire has helped loads and broadened my reading and introduced me to new writers and creatives. This doesn’t need to cost a lot, and on-line works really well for me in terms of flexibility around family life (see January Writing Hour with Clare Shaw and Kim Moore.)
Connecting to poetry communities on social media like #poemsabout and #promptcombo on Bluesky and @TopTweetTuesday on X is also a great way to write more and receive feedback.
Reading your work aloud at open mics (see Paul’s excellent Book Bag open mic), connecting with other writers and building a trusted group of fellow creatives you can share your work with, and expect and give honest and supportive feedback to, has been essential for my development as a writer.
This and approaching established writers whose work you love for mentorship – big shoutout to Carole Bromley and Rebecca Goss – who have both helped my craft and confidence enormously in the last year.
PS: Finally, after reading #Moth, who else should people be checking out?
EH: If you like the hybrid nature of this book, then Tania Hershman is ‘The Queen of Hybrid’ and her latest book ‘Time: a Cronomemoir’ is out with Guillemot Press. The serialised audio of this on Tania’s Substack is ace, as well as her back catalogue of work on her website. Tania is a huge inspiration and a really fab workshop facilitator as well. https://taniahershman.com
I have become a bit of a fan girl of Nina Mingya Powles. How her writing spans all forms and genres and embraces hybrid. I would start with her marvellous ‘non-fiction’ essay writing. Being a foodie, I especially loved ‘Tiny Moons’ with The Emma Press, as well as her latest collection of poetry ‘In The Hollow of The Wave’ with Nine Arches Press. Her blog Crispy Noodles is ace and always makes me marvel at her writing as well as making me hungry. https://ninamingya.substack.com
I love any writer who embraces play and was alerted to Jon Stone and the concept of ‘Ludokinetic Poetry’ when he wrote a Poetry Society piece for National Poetry Day on a poem I wrote years ago called ‘The Crab Man.’ Jon’s website is a rabbit hole of invention that I could happily spend hours exploring. https://www.gojonstonego.com
Definitely check out Elizabeth Osmond‘s forthcoming debut poetry collection ‘Hatchery’ coming out with ‘V. Press’ late this year: a magical weaving of Beth’s neonatology consultant background, the history of this medical discipline, as well as the realities, joys and heartbreak of working in care and the NHS. This is a poetry pamphlet not to be missed! @bethosmond.bsky.social
For sheer artistic brilliance check out Sarah Raybould whose work spans filmpoetry, musical composition, performance, spoken word, visual art, dance and hybridity of all kinds. Sarah’s latest filmpoetry compositions with ‘IceFloe Press’ and ‘Ink, Sweat & Tears’ are stunning. She will also feature in Black Bough’s Silver Branch Series soon, so don’t miss that. @raybould_drs on X
I could go on, there are so many fab writers out there on social media, on-line and in print publishing, as well a whole host of fabulous independent presses, of which Ethel Zine is one that I particularly admire. Those writers mentioned above are all quite different, and a mere toe-dip into the pool of poetic creativity I see around me.
#Moth truly is a fantastic and special book. I’m thrilled that Eleanor and Ethel Zine vision was realised in the production of #Moth. ‘This second poem ‘Emperor Gum’ is another of my favourites.
If you’d like to attend the #Moth online launch happening on Sunday 19th April, click here for full details and to grab your free ticket. It’s going to be a marvellous event.
Make sure to return on 21st April for Eleanor’s third poem.
Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.
This week has been fun and fast.
I started the week with taking the dog to a secure field and woodland so he could run free and explore. He slept well on Sunday evening.
I received a letter with some beautiful poetry, followed closely by ‘the taro as deer’ by Caroline Harris.
Work has been busy and I am learning more in my new role daily. It was our company conference and hearing from the guest speakers was inspiring on the topic and approach to education.
It was another wonderful Write Here, Right Now. I set a rather complex prompt which was different to my previous prompts. I think it worked well. I am very proud of the small community that makes up Write Here, Right Now. Everyone has a different perspective which helps tremendously when reflecting on your writing and taking editorial suggestions.
I got to catch the Last Saturday Poets which was a showcase of Hedgehog Press poets. The readings were perfect as was the artwork shared by Karen Pierce Gonzalez.
It was also great to see Paul Connolly announce his debut book, coming out with Broken Sleep in 2027.
On top of that, I’ve been reading;
After Party
Poet: Dean Browne
Press: Picador Poetry
After Party is the debut collection from Dean Browne. And what a debut it is. This is a book that takes you with it as it explores multiple themes from different perspectives and angles. I now need to get a copy of his chapbook, Kitchens at Night.
Vivid, textured imagery jumps from the page in many of the poems in this book giving an immersive feeling. ‘Listening To Joni Mitchell’s Blue While Cooking Peposo’ is fantastic and one of my favourites in the collection. ‘Scuttle’ is another excellent example as is ‘Fascinators’.
Several of the pieces use surrealism with great effect. It’s an excellent skill to connect with readers at a subconscious level using weird and unexpected language and images. The poems ‘Quiche’ and ‘Notes Toward an Epithalamium’ are both excellent examples in my opinion.
Excerpt of Quiche
We are treated to deep emotion in multiple ways across the collection. The poem ‘Percy French’ is a swathe of emotion, mostly regret and unexpected grief. The piece ‘Pinball’ (one of my favourites) moved me considerably. A dark humour fills ‘Parachuting Into The Volcano’ and ‘Prayer For Buster Keaton’ compared to ‘Butternut Squash’.
Fans of poets exploring different form are in luck in this book. Micro ‘The Infinite’ is tightly packed and appears in your mind and stays almost immediately. The piece ‘Horse Chestnuts’ (one of my favourites) uses excellent repetition to convey the atmosphere. The use of couplets in ‘The Pineapple Massage’ adds to the quirky feel of the piece.
After Party is an absolute corker of a book. It will appeal to readers who appreciate vivid imagery, humour and surrealism. Fans of form will love the variation. As debut collections go, this is one of the best I’ve read and i highly recommend you add it to your poetry library.
Favourite Poem I’ve already mentioned ‘Listening To Joni Mitchell’s Blue While Cooking Peposo’, ‘Horse Chestnuts’ and ‘Pinball’ so I’ll add another seven. ‘The Triangle’, ‘Days Of The Brindled Cow’, ‘Synastry Chart’, ‘The Cup’, ‘Aide-Mémoire’, ‘Spacer’ and ‘Oink’ are still sticking in my mind.
An After Party and The Book Bag wouldn’t be complete without the playlist. This week I have a special mix of music across genres;
Groove Armada – At The River David Bowie – Life on Mars Tiësto – Adagio for Strings Dua Lipa – Levitating Queen – Flash The Weeknd – Blinding Lights Roger Sanchez – Another Chance Stardust – Music Sounds Better With You The Cranberries – Linger Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love Jay-Z Featuring Mr Hudson – Young Forever Joni Mitchell – California
Before I Go…
Unwhispered Legacy is launching on Tuesday. Hopefully it can raise some money for Médecins Sans Frontières. Keep an eye on social media for when the anthology goes live. My handle is @PaulWritesPoems across Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X and BlueSky.
One More Thing…
Remember to check out Vikki C’s March Poetic Voice feature here. It includes the Forward prize nominated ‘Morningfall’.
And Another…
Evie Carlyn has created a new space for poetry on BlueSky using the hashtag PoemsAloud. All you need to do is upload audio or video files of your poems.
And Finally…
Congratulations to all who had success in the National Poetry Competition especially the overall winner, Partridge Boswell. The Gathering is a wonderful poem.
Next Week’s Read
Title: Strike
Poet: Sarah Wimbush
Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week.
Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.
It’s been a couple weeks since I posted in The Book Bag, but I am back.
I’ve been busy with plans for 2026, finalising the anthology that will be launched on 31st March, submitting pieces and arranging Poetic Voices features for the coming months. I’ve also been lucky enough to host another Open Mic which was an amazing and intimate session.
Another good thing I got to do was nominating Matthew MC Smith, Paul Connolly and Vikki C for the Forward Prize. It’s a privilege to be able to give further recognition to such deserving poets.
Aside from that I’ve been lucky to see a sapling from the felled Sycamore Gap, a true symbol of resilience. I’ve also been on a mini-break including a visit to Bamburgh Castle, some time on the North Sea and a trip to Woodhorn Museum. I also attended a terrific talk by Rachel Joyce at the Alnwick Storyfest.
On top of that, I’ve been reading;
English Jack
Poet: Harry Gallagher
Press: The Black Light Engine Room Press
I’ve met Harry several times including attending his stanza meetings on a few occasions. He is a great lad and always has time to speak to people and discuss and promote poetry. Harry is a natural performer and can get people truly engaged.
English Jack is a small pamphlet that follows the life of Jack up to his 50’s. This is a social commentary and a portrait of masculinity and identity that is immensely relevant to today’s society.
There are grim, stark points in this book. ‘Respect’ is a harrowing piece that resonates and teems with authenticity. It reminds me of the mindset of some of the men from the council estate I grew up on. The opening poem ‘Chip Off The Old Block’ is an ominous foreshadowing of things to come. ‘Lessons’ and ‘Borstal Dots’ are further forays into the Jack’s decline.
Harry creates delicate moments in his portrait of Jack. ‘Comic’ (one of my favourites) places Jack in the happiness and security of his Grandad’s house where we see a glimpse of Jack’s struggles with reading and the impact it has had at school. ‘Refuge’ and ‘The Gentle Girl As Mrs English’ are both tender and haunting.
Harry paints the time and landscape of the unfolding events remarkably in the pamphlet. ‘Summer Of Love’, ‘Away’ and ‘In A Corner Of An English Pub’ are all vivid in my mind and I can see each one playing out, in fact some of the moments in this book I have definitely seen unfold.
In terms of form and styles, rhyming structures are used expertly throughout with some arriving or leaving mid poem including ‘Dad’s Back’. Harry also uses various structures including couplets in ‘Blame’ and spacing to close out ‘Roadworker’. The book is a timeline across decades, and each piece is perfectly placed.
Fans of social commentary and gritty, true to life poetry will consume this book quickly then re-read and peel back further layers. This is an honest, important and necessary book that shines a light on a dark, cyclical subculture of masculine identity. The timeline format documents Jack’s downward spiral perfectly, illustrating inherited beliefs, culture and personality.
Favourite Poem:
Aside from ‘Comic’, I’ll add the following poem, ‘The Gentle Girl’ because it is a poem that gives hope for a better outcome.
Are you looking for the playlist? Well here we go…
Chumbawumba – Tubthumping Oasis – Supersonic The Streets – Dry Your Eyes The Who – Who Are You? Elvis – Suspicious Minds Tina Turner – What’s Love Got To Do With It Sam Fender – Friday Fighting Bruce Springsteen – The River Manic Street Preachers – A Design For Life The Smiths – Suffer Little Children Lea McCann & Eddie Harris – Compared to What
Before I Go…
Tickets for The Book Bag Open Mic Session 4, taking place on Sunday, 3rd May are now available here. Limited readers and limited audience to provide an intimate, supportive and welcoming experience.
One More Thing…
The release of Unwhispered Legacy is fast approaching. An online launch has also been scheduled for Friday 1st May at 7pm (BST). Tickets will be available soon. Keep up to date with my socials for when they go live.
And Another…
Jeff Cottrill, a performance poet from Canada, has some UK dates scheduled for June. He’s been at a couple of Book Bag Open Mics and his work is funny, engaging and honest, follow him on Bluesky @JeffCotrill.bsky.social. He’s a fantastic performer and if you’re in the following areas and dates, I’d recommend you go along; 31st May: Poetry in the Park, Aberdeen 2nd June: Voices from the Fountain, Walsall 9th June: Survivor Poets, London 11th June: Worcester Litfest, Worcester.
He is also planning on attending the Fire & Dust Open Mic in Coventry on 4th June.
And Finally…
Iamb Wave 25 went live at midnight with a stellar lineup of poets. You can listen to the new wave plus all previous waves at https://www.iamb.uk/. Mark’s Iamb resource gives a terrific spotlight to so many great poets.
Next Week’s Read
Title: Birds| Humans | Machines | Dolphins
Poet: Genevieve Carver
Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week.
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 Branchfeatured 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;
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…
Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.
This week, I joined my new team at work and was welcomed warmly by colleagues. It also meant I said farewell but I’m still within earshot of my previous team. They did gift me a lovely bottle of Hendrick’s Gin. Which I will savour!
In allotment news, we’ve cleaned the greenhouse and have started some seedlings off at home and chitted some potatoes for first and second early crops.
I dabbed with some watercolour and I’m happy my colour bending for sunset and sunrise is improving.
If you’ve been keeping up to date with Paul Connolly’s Poetic Voice feature, on The Book Bag: Poetic Voices, you’ll know I’ve shared a fourth piece. I’ve been really lucky to share his work throughout February. Read the feature here.
I also took part in #FragmentsFriday which I’ve mentioned previously. This was my poem:
On top of that, I’ve been reading;
Along The Home Roads
Poet: Andy Perrin
Press: Bottlecap Press
Andy Perrin is a poet I’ve been reading for a few years now. He is a very supportive member of the poetry community on social media and I always welcome his commentary and encouragement. At the end of 2025, Andy held a giveaway for some of his copies of Along The Home Roads and I was very pleased and lucky to get one.
Andy is a master of minimalism in his word count, able to create vivid snapshots. His journeys (by bicycle) showcase terrific scenery. Poems such as ‘Point Judith Lighthouse’, ‘Wickford Harbor in January’ and ‘Spring’s Palette’ (one of my favourites) highlight this perfectly.
The reliance of humanity on nature as a healer is demonstrated across the pages in pieces such as ‘Serendipity’s Reward’ and ‘Along The Side Of The Road’. A favourite of mine is ‘A Winter Meadow Walk’, I’ve returned to it several times, it resonates so much.
The prevailing message in this book is hope. This begins with the first poem in the book ‘The Night Map’ and continues throughout. ‘The Common Blue Violet’ uses colour to express this perfectly and brought a lasting smile. These were the right poems for me to consume this week.
Andy uses a variety of styles through the chapbook. We have couplets such as in ‘Daybreak in September’, micros including ‘Countless Faces’ and use of white space in ‘My Coastal Sanctuary’. Each style complements the language effectively.
This is a book that lifts spirits and will appeal to readers who enjoy poetry that recognises nature as a force for good. Fans of micro and minimal word counts incorporated across various styles will appreciate this book. It is a wonderful tonic of a book.
Favourite Poem:
I’ve already said ‘A Winter Meadow Walk’ and ‘Spring’s Palette’ but I’ll also mention another handful, although this is a book brimming with top notch poems. So I’ll add ‘Stilled’, ‘Alone By A Fieldstone Wall’, ‘My Hydrangeas Didn’t Bloom Last’, ‘Of January 29, 1882’ and ‘The Home Roads’.
To read more on Andy and buy Along The Home Roads click here.
You’ve pedalled all this way, so here’s your playlist, this week with a mix of rock, pop, R&B and Jazz;
Cannonball Adderley – Mercy, Mercy, Mercy The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army Florence & The Machine – Dog Days Are Over Coldplay – Viva La Vida Jay-Z Featuring Mr Hudson – Young Forever Nat King Cole – Autumn Leaves Hollow Coves – Coastline Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – Chimes of Freedom Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way Joni Mitchell – Both Sides, Now
Before I Go… The Book Bag Open Mic Session 3 is taking place via Zoom on Sunday 8 March between 7pm and 9pm. Reader and Audience Tickets available here. The sessions are always a supportive environment to showcase your polished gems and roughcut coals.
One More Thing… The Last Saturday Poets takes place on Saturday evening, hosted by the excellent Louise Longson. Another great lineup to enjoy including recent Book Bag alumni Carmella De Keyser & Corrina Board. Full details and tickets available here.
And Another… Last week’s book, Mædwe is being launched online on Tuesday 3rd March with the terrific Victoria Spires in the hosting seat and amazing guest readers. Check out Corinna’s Instagram to sign up.
And Finally… Happy 5th Birthday to Black Cat Poetry Press. The quality of titles released in that time is substantial and is a real showcase of contemporary poets.
Your regular weekly instalment will return on Sunday 8 March 2026. Next Sunday, March’s Poetic Voice will be launched at Noon…
Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week with the launch of March’s Poetic Voice.
Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.
This week has been a fairly quiet one with the bleary, grey weather. I did manage to get across to our allotment and look at the current progress of garlic and shallots, parsley and onions. They seem to be doing well despite the constant rain. At home we sowed some sweetpeas to start them off for spring. Also we harvested the last of the sprouts and used them to make a delicious slaw.
I’ve been able to write, do some editing, I launched this month’s Poetic Voice, the excellent Paul Connolly. Read part one here and bookmark for further work being added.
On top of that, I’ve been reading;
Through Salt-Heavy Seas
Poet: Andrew Williamson
I first encountered Andrew Williamson’s poetry as part of the weekly PoemsAbout prompts on BlueSky ran by Alan Parry & Broken Spine. His work caught my eye for several reasons – the minimalist word count, the power he packs in and the relatability of his poems. Andrew is also a member of Write Here, Right Now and always provides clever and creative insight.
Through Salt-Heavy Seas is a collection that focuses on place and how it impacts our very core. The piece ‘Tūrangawaewae’ (one of my favourites) and ‘When You Are Ready To Get On The Plane’ both lean into Andrew’s antipodean heritage. ‘The Kitchen’ draws readers into the intimacy and legacy of domestic spaces.
Imagery is vibrant and vivid throughout the collection. A prime example (and one of my favourites) is ‘Coire Uisg’ which uses a broad palette to paint the horizon. ‘Lambing Snow’ will feel ultra-familiar to anyone who has lived in rural areas or worked in agriculture. The piece ‘Forest’ is a clever poem that inverts the natural imagery of a forest poem.
Across the book, poems will cocoon you in various emotional states. ‘Hiraeth’ sparks pride, ‘Lullaby’ is a heart-wrenching piece that drew pause. The piece ‘Catching The Train From Dundee on New Year’s Eve Without You’ is an authentic and relatable love poem especially for those who’ve ever had to leave the comfort of family for a place that now feels unfamiliar despite its familiarity.
There is varied use of form and style in the collection with ‘Seven Questions To A Mountain’, a question poem, ‘Spring’ gives us a haiku which is always a treat. I enjoyed the looseness of punctuation that allows readers to dictate pace and let the poem continue in the mind to shape an outcome especially in ‘Coming Out Of Hibernation’ and ‘I Am Waiting For A Summer That Never Comes’. Andrew has also added a small glossary of translations to the book which was welcome as I was able to add to my vocabulary. In fact, Andrews use of traditional languages is an excellent inclusion in the book. Keeping these words in the public’s mind is tremendously important.
This collection will appeal to readers who love poems that speak of place and how we carry it. Poetics who want emotive pieces that speak on relationships and longing with honesty and authenticity will appreciate the poetry contained within. A gem of a book packed with relatable, accessible poetry that can be returned to time and again.
Favourite Poem:
I’ve already mentioned ‘Coire Uisg’ and ‘Tūrangawaewae’. Here’s another handful that spring to mind as I write this. ‘Unrequited’, ‘An Dùblachd’, ‘Variants’, ‘Kintsugi’ and ‘Letting In The Wolf’. I’ll also say ‘Compass Point’.
And if you’re looking for this week’s playlist, here it is. Something a bit eclectic again but what else would it be?!
Deacon Blue – Dignity Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Into My Arms Runrig – Skye Mànran – Lahinch Ellie Beaton – The Island INXS – Never Tear Us Apart The Dave Brubeck Quartet – Take Five Manic Street Preachers – A Design For Life Crowded House – Weather With You Art Pepper – Patricia Norma Winstone – Distance Natalie Imbruglia – Torn Ralph Vaughan Williams – The Lark Ascending
Before I Go… The Book Bag Open Mic Session 3 is shaping up nicely with exactly a month to go. Reader and Audience tickets are available here. Always a supportive and inclusive space for poets to share polished gems or roughcut coals.
One More Thing… The Broken Spine have a submission call for Punk poetry. An opportunity to let loose and potentially be published in print. Full details can be found here.
And Another… Black Bough Poetry has a new project called Fragment Friday. Details are on social media. Give them a follow and get involved (Meta: @blackboughpoetry / X: @blackboughpoems / Bluesky: @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social).
And Finally… The North currently have an open submission call for their ‘Libraries’ issue. Libraries mean so many things to so many people. Full details available here.
Next Week’s Read
Title: Mædwe
Poet: Corinna Board
Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week.
Welcome to the first poetic voice of 2026. February is a special month as I celebrate my birthday AND i get to share work from an incredible poet and man.
I first encountered this Poetic Voice sharing his work on the weekly PoemsAbout prompts supplied Broken Spine on Bluesky, finding his poetry smart and accessible and full of wonderful phrasing and incredible language. Then I heard him read at an Open Mic and I was blown away with his performance, he performs with an vigour and gravitas and if you get the chance to hear him read his work, do take it – he often shares his recordings on social media. I’ve been fortunate enough to strike up a real connection with him.
So with further ado, allow me to introduce the excellent Paul Connolly. Find him on Bluesky at @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social.
Paul Connolly has written verse all his life but turned more serious attention to it about fifteen years ago, having set aside his Orwell Prize-longlisted satirical blog. Since then he has had well over 100 poems published in poetry magazines and online periodicals across the globe. He was third in the Magna Carta Poetry Competition, highly commended in the Sentinel Prize, and has a Charles Causley Prize shortlisting and two for the Bridport Prize (as well as a Bridport longlisting in the novel category). Last year, he was among the finalists for the Walking at Night writing prize and received a Best of the Net nomination. He is now seeking a publisher for his first poetry collection and his two novels.
Across the month I will be showcasing a bumper four poems from Paul, starting with two today that showcase Paul’s range.
This is ‘Late Summer Walk’.
Poem 2 is titled ‘Graduation’.
I am always grateful to showcase writers with range. Here we see a piece steeped in urban reality.
Paul’s final poem is called ‘Now’ and is a terrific example of combining the poetic with the real. An excellent piece to bookend the work shared this month.
I’d like to say a big thank you to Paul for sharing these excellent pieces over February and feel honoured to showcase some unpublished pieces.
Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.
This week I’ve been able to celebrate Mrs S’ birthday with an afternoon tea, a day out and a movie night despite being lemsip cold.
The submission window for Black Bough’s Christmas/ Winter anthology opened and lots of poems are pouring in. Of my own writing, I’ve written a couple of pieces and edited them down. I was also in the audience for Iamb’s sixth birthday celebrations. A tremendously stellar lineup.
Aside from that, some unexpected news at work means I’ll be joining a new team in the next couple of weeks. I did receive a wonderful letter that raised my spirits.
On top of that, I’ve been reading;
The beautiful cover was designed and created by the multi-talented Oormila Vijayakrishnan Prahlad
The How In The World
Poet: Louise Longson
Press: Hedgehog Poetry Press
Louise Longson is an incredibly talented poet having won the inaugural Kari Ann Flickinger Memorial Literary Prize in 2023 and has released several books over the past few years. She is also a massive supporter of the poetry community hosting a monthly showcase on the Last Saturday poets (you may have caught the Iamb special yesterday evening, mentioned above). I’m a big a fan of Louise’s work.
The How In the World is an ecopoetry collection that examines the impact of humanity on nature and vice versa. It’s a book I’ve been looking forward to reading for a while.
Louise’s poetry teems with indictment and one of her strengths is getting the reader to invest immediately. The pieces ‘Hunger Stones’, ‘Prayer For The Bodies Of Those Who Died Violently’ and ‘The World Is A Mirror Of Myself Dying’ all capture environmental suffering and decline through human, industrial and agricultural expansion. ‘Dark Harvest (26 March 2022)’ is another poem that really hit me hard. These are not your typical eco poems. They have bite, purpose and importance.
Readers are immersed in vivid scenery in poems such as ‘Graveyard by the Sea’ which uses multi-sensory language to immerse the reader. The piece ‘Spirit Bear’ (one of my favourites) puts us firmly in nature with a sense of motion.
Louise plays with form in various ways throughout the collection. The use of white space in ‘The Impact of Atmospheric Change on Bird Flight’ is put to great use supported by beautiful language. The shaping of ‘How We Are Like The Moon’ is terrific and seems to shift depending on how you hold the book in your hand. The piece ‘Memories Left By Water’ (one of my favourites) is a skilled crafting of a piece that can be read as three different poems.
This book will appeal to fans of ecopoetry who like their poems to have purpose and truth. If you love a broad scope of language and imagery, this collection would be an ideal fit in your poetry library. If you want to feel, buy this book. A phenomenal read.
Favourite Poem:
I’ve already mentioned ‘Spirit Bear’ and ‘Memories Left By Water’. Another handful as I write today are ‘How We Are The Willows that Weep By The Banks of The River’, ‘Somewhere In The Shadows’, ‘How We Are Something Sharp Smoothed By The Sea’, ‘Depth of Field’ and ‘Finding A Piece of Humanity’.
To buy The How In The World, click here. You can also contact Louise directly for a signed copy.
Wondering what my playlist to enjoy with The How In The World is? Look no further…
A Winged Victory for the Sullen – Steep Hills of Vicodin Tears Laura Marling – For You Sigur Rós – Samskeyti Fleetwood Mac – Songbird Paul Desmond – Take Ten Amy Macdonald – Caledonia Ella Fitzgerald & Nelson Skylark John Coltrane – After the Rain Brian Eno – An Ending (Ascent) Phoebe Bridgers – Scott Street Duran Duran – Planet Earth Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight
Before I Go… The Book Bag: Poetic Voice for February 2026 goes live at Noon today. Links will be dropping on social media, keep your eyes peeled.
One More Thing… Black Bough Poetry has an open mic on Wednesday 11th February. They are always supportive and welcoming evenings, and Matthew Smith is a great host. Tickets available here.
And Another… Matthew is also holding another Crafting Your Year in Poetry workshop which I highly recommend. It kept me on track and accountable for my goals in 2025 and continues to do so. Tickets here.
And Finally… I mentioned the submission window for Black Bough’s Christmas & Winter Anthology opening for entries this week. Remember, the window closes today (1st February 2026). Get your poems in.
Next Week’s Read
Title: Through Salt-Heavy Seas
Poet: Andy Williamson
Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week.
Paul Writes Poems 