poet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: Matthew MC Smith

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let me know your thoughts.

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

Stay Poetic,

Paul.

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

Welcome to The Unwhispered Legacy Anthology page.

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

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

The Concept

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

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

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

So lets get into the important bits and pieces.

Submission Guidelines

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

Please see submission guidelines below:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On occasion, editorial suggestions may be made.

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

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

No plagiarism / ai poetry please.

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

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

All decisions are final. 


Copyright remains with you.

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

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

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

Stay Poetic,
Paul

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

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

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

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Maybe I’ll Call Gillian Anderson

  • Poet: Rhian Elizabeth
  • Press: Broken Sleep Books


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Before I Go…

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

One More Thing…

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

And Another…

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

And Finally…

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

Next Week’s Read

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

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Poetic Voices – September 2025

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

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

Credit: Derrick Kakembo

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

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

Beast Micro Book Bag Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay Poetic,

Paul

The Book Bag: Vanishing Point by Colin Bancroft

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Vanishing Point

  • Poet: Colin Bancroft
  • Press: Broken Sleep Books

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To buy Colin’s book, click here.

Favourite Poem:

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

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

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

Before I Go…

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

One More Thing…

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

And Finally…

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

Next Week’s Read

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

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

Paul

The Book Bag: The Oasis by Charles Lang

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

The Oasis

  • Poet: Charles Lang
  • Press: Skein Press

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Favourite Poem:

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

To learn more about Charles Lang, click here.

To buy The Oasis, click here.

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

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

One More Thing…

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

And Another…

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

And Another…

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

And Finally…

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

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Vanishing Point
  • Poet: Colin Bancroft

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Poetic Voices – August 2025

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

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

Credit: Naomi Woodis

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

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

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

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

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

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

Take it Easy and Stay Poetic,

Paul

The Book Bag – Modern Poetry by Diane Seuss

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

Well, this week started well with Sunday Evening’s Black Bough Open Mic and it’s carried through a sense of contentment and ease throughout. I’ve enjoyed some sunny weather, attended Louise Machen’s online launch which was excellent. I celebrated a year since Neath Poetry Party, which also means a year since escaping my previous job and employer. I also had some time to work on writing. Also, started a very special top secret collaboration project.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Modern Poetry

  • Poet: Diane Seuss
  • Press: Graywolf Press in USA, Fitzcarraldo Editions in UK


I had not read a Diane Seuss collection previously to reading Modern Poetry, so I had no preconceptions (or real knowledge of her status) and picked this up in the bookshop on the aesthetic of the cover. The caveat to this is, I had read some of her pieces in anthologies.

In the book, Music plays a key role. Not just in the lyrical quality of the writing but also in terms of points of reference. Many of the poems have a musical connection as a title. From ‘Ballad’ to ‘Pop Music’ to ‘Rhapsody’ and more, are all lyrical in their language.


One thing Seuss does not lack is humour. Poems including ‘Untitled’ and ‘Ballad From The Soundhole of An Unstrung Guitar’, I found to be very unflinchingly sharp. ‘Little Fugue with Jean Seberg and Tupperware’ had me chuckling away so fully that it drew a few funny looks from passers-by.

Introspection is a consistent theme in the collection. None of which is handled in a cliched style but with honesty and humour. Pieces including ‘Penetralium’, ‘Little Refrain’ and ‘Threnody’ are just some of the terrific examples of this. Aside from introspection, Seuss is not afraid of sharp extrospection; for poems showcasing this skill, read the poems ‘Simile’ and ‘Ballad That Ends with Bitch’.

Another integral part of Diane Seuss’s writing is her compassion. ‘An Aria’ shows this expertly as does the tremendous ‘Monody’.

Diane Seuss won the Pulitzer for Poetry marking her as a lauded and revered poet despite coming from a working-class background and beginning her poetry journey through self-education and learning. This takes centre stage in the poem ‘My Education’ and the title poem of the book ‘Modern Poetry’ (one of my favourites). Another of my favourite pieces, ‘Poetry’ examines what the nature of poetry is to the reader and writer. Hopefully my poetry is poetry. I think it is and that’s what counts. Right?


This collection really spoke to me on several levels. I know people have compared Diane Seuss to Bukowski (whose work I enjoy for its gritty, grimy starkness) yet with more humanity, however I think this does both a disservice as both are exceptional without comparison and distinctive. In the collection there is raw honesty and understanding. The discussions on building and establishing yourself as a poet coming from a humble background with minimal knowledge or access, questioning what actually poetry is and why we write is real and relatable. The collection also gave me some good references of people to read (and some to avoid). I now need to track down more of Diane Seuss’s work – if anyone is selling any of her previous collections or wants to send me one let me know! Or if you want to recommend another Seuss collection, I’d be grateful.


Buy this book if you like unflinching honesty, humour, enjoy lyrical poetry and sharp observations on poetry and poets as well as humanity. Tremendous.


Favourite Poem:
I could list about 15-20 in this collection however I’ll stick to five. ‘Poetry’, ‘Modern Poetry’ ‘Allegory’, ‘Weeds’ and ‘Bluish’ are the ones in my mind right now.

To buy Modern Poetry click here.

To read more on Dianne Seuss, click here.

Here’s an accompanying eclectic playlist which but nobody asked for but probably secretly hoped for:

The Who – My Generation
The Eagles – Hotel California
Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights
Elton John – I’m Still Standing
Eminem – Lose Yourself
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Where The Wild Roses Grow
PJ Harvey – Angelene
Alanis Morrisette – Ironic
Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way
Dave Brubeck – Take 5
Simon & Garfunkel – The Sound Of Silence
Skunk Anansie – Weak
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Janis Joplin – Me and Bobby McGee

One More Thing…

Beautiful Little Fools is available to purchase. I received my copy this week and the quality of the writing and the produced book is top class. Also, at one point in the week it was up to number 6 in the Anthology bestseller chart on Amazon. Buy it here. If you’d like to come along to the online launch and open mic, details are here.

And Another…

If you haven’t listened to A Thousand Shades of Green special for The Whiskey Tree: Untamed Love, Wave 2 you are missing out.  Find it here.

And Another…

Karen Pierce Gonzalez is hosting Alan Parry reading poems from Oh Man!, work on masculinity, on 15th July 2025 at 3-4pm PST (11pm UK time). I’ll be reading too. If you’d like to be in the audience, contact northbaypoetics.net or DM Karen on BlueSky for the zoom link.

And Finally…

Victoria Spires, writer of Soi-Meme, is part of a Salo Press showcase taking place on Zoom on 25th July from 7pm. Hosted by the great Vanessa Napolitano, other readers include Karan Chambers and Wendy Allen. Seek out Victoria on social media to get a link to the event.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Cupid Grown
  • Poet: Adam Panichi

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Midden Witch by Fiona Benson

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

This week has been busy. An open mic on Thursday, was a highlight although I could only stay for the first half. I submitted a couple of pieces to some really good magazines, had a tussle with Submittable and had a lovely rejection. I finished an audiobook that felt like it was unfolding in real time in places. Work is busy, and enjoyable and I’ve been able to work on a new project. I did find some time to get a long overdue haircut. On Sunday evening (tonight, 6th July), I’ll be reading at the Black Bough open mic.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Midden Witch

  • Poet: Fiona Benson
  • Press: Cape Poetry

Let me address something. This is the first time I’d read a collection by Fiona Benson in full, so I came into this review with only my appreciation for her work that I’d read in anthologies and online.

Midden Witch is divided into sections each titled with links to witchery, for example, ‘Discovery of Witchcraft’ and ‘Familiars’. There are micropoems on each division page, which feel like bonus material.

Language is a major strength of Fiona Benson. As this is a collection steeped in witchcraft and magic and the perception of it, this is no major surprise but poems such as ‘Robin Goodfellow’ and ‘North Berwick Witch Trials’ are incredibly rich. In fact, some of the pieces felt like spells, especially ‘Song of The Riparian Zone’ (part ii of ‘Beaver Trial’).  

A key theme throughout the book is how those in power have mistreated people, especially women in medieval times. Famous witches (yes I did my research and was shocked, SHOCKED by the accounts!) are referred to throughout such as ‘Jenny Greenteeth’. Poems including ‘Defamatio‘ showcase persecution. The reference to the church and the antaganost in the piece ‘Matthew Hopkins (Persecutor)’ is forthright and unapologetic.

There are some moments where I felt my heart crush and I had to pause reading, the impact was so intense. This was the case with ‘Charm For An Ailing Child’ . When you have such a strong emotional response when reading, you know a collection will stay with you.

Nature plays a major role in this collection. Fiona Benson creates exceptional imagery in pieces such as  The symbiotic relationship between humans and nature is explored also. The poems ‘Lark Ascending’ and ‘Lilac Chaste-Tree’ are great examples of this and show completely opposite approaches. However, ‘Moss’ for me is the standout in this theme, partly as I am partial to it but mostly because it is exquisite.


There is plenty of wit and humour in the collection in different shades. ‘The Bill Against Conjurations And Wichecrafts And Sorcery And Enchantments, Henry VIII, 1541-2 Cut Up, Rearranged’ feels like a dark satire reimagining a law against Witchcraft signed by Henry VIII, a King known for his treatment of women.

Fiona Benson plays with form throughout. We have chaptered poems in ‘Babushka’. ‘Amy Duny’ reads like biographical prose with a great shift in the closing line. Tercets appear throughout, including in ‘Wisp’. Alignment and spacing is played with in the poem ‘Exorcism: Wild Horses’ adding further emphasis to the writing.

Favourite Poem:

There’s a few in Midden Witch that I returned to time and again this week. I’m picking five six seven today, but it could be a lot more.  ‘Midden Witch’, ‘Patrick Swayze’, ‘Invention Of Opium’, ‘Leddy Lister’, ‘Accusatio’, ‘Charm For An Ailing Child’ and ‘Transformation: Galinthis’.

This collection will appeal to many. Witchcraft enthusiasts for one. Oh and people who agree that rules aren’t applied evenly to all genders, sexes and classes. It will appeal to poetry readers who love rich language, nature, various forms, myth, metaphor and realism. A bewitching collection.

To read Fiona Benson’s bio, click here.

Buy Midden Witch here.

What’s your favourite Fiona Benson poem or collection? Let me know in the comments.

I’m sharing another playlist today to accompany the reading;

Kate Bush – Babooshka
Evanescence – Bring Me To Life
Nina Simone – I Put A Spell on You
Frank Sinatra – Witchcraft
Donovan – Season of The Witch
Stevie Nicks – Rhiannon
Wardruna – Helvegen
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Spellbound
Aurora – Running With The Wolves
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – The Time of My Life

One More Thing…
It was great to see an exciting opportunity for poets who had attended or plan on attending one of the Black Bough Poetry ‘Crafting Your Year in Poetry’ workshops. I found this opportunity through subscribing to their newsletter. A terrific source of information including details of Louise Machen’s forthcoming online launch of I Am Not Light, a link to the new Silver Branch feature for July which celebrates a tremendously talented poet and artist, Oormila Vijayakrishnan Prahlad and details of their next ‘Crafting Your Year in Poetry’ workshop. Sign up to their newsletter here.

And Another…
There is a new resource available to writers to get their work in front of new audiences through the Promote Indie Lit platform. If you know any writers who are looking to get their name out there for free, definitely direct them to https://promoteindielit.com. There are multiple opportunities and mediums for writers to have work shared including reviews (some will appear on The Book Bag), interviews, features and more.

And Another…
The Broken Spine are launching a new workshop. Cut To The Bone is all about editing your poetry to its sharpest. Details here.

And Finally…
Beautiful Little Fools is released on Monday July 7th 2025 exploring and responding to The Gilded Age. I’m very happy to have two pieces in the collection, sharing pages with some incredible poets. On Monday, go to Amazon and search Beautiful Little Fools. I’m sure Broken Spine will be sharing a link on Monday via their BlueSky social media.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Modern Poetry
  • Poet: Dianne Seuss

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Down River with Li Po by Karen Pierce Gonzalez

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

This week has been busy. Friends visiting the past weekend got us across North Tyneside and Northumberland. A walk around Rising Sun Country Park, a trip to the coast and a walk over the causeway to St. Mary’s Lighthouse. Some fish and chips too. I also saw Tim Minchin live on Wednesday at Newcastle City Hall who was excellent as always. His live shows always make me laugh, cry and leave with a smile.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Down River With Li Po

  • Poet: Karen Pierce Gonzalez
  • Press: Black Cat Poetry Press


I first read Karen’s work on a Broken Spine or (maybe a Top Tweet Tuesday) prompt response. Then I was lucky enough to see her read on an open mic and it was clear that she is both a tremendous writer and performer. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on one of the several collections Karen has or is releasing this year. I will be honest here, I had been sent this collection electronically hence it being on my tablet, but I have also ordered the physical copy, I loved it that much (it didn’t arrive intime for the photos which will be updated once it arrives). Read on for my thoughts as well as an eclectic playlist.

Down River with Li Po transports us back in time and space back to 8th Century China during the Tang Dynasty whilst also having a foot in modern California. This adds a great dynamic to the collection as the parallels become visible.


From the first poem, it is clear that creating sensory immersive imagery is one of Karen’s strengths. Pieces including ‘Lantern Festival’, ‘On The Bank’ and ‘Waking Up In Paradise’ are all terrific examples of this.

The collection feels relaxing, soft and uncomplicated as readers sail down the Yangtze River. Pieces such as ‘Waiting’ and ‘At The Harbor’ are excellent examples of crafting serenity in poetry. ‘A Tender Walk’ is a beautifully crafted piece that made me feel calm after reading.  However, Karen counterpoints tranquillity with urgency in pieces such as ‘When The General Arrives’ and ‘Instincts’.

Nature is a focal point in the collection. ‘Early Summer Rain’ is a fine example of Karen’s ability to weave the domestic and the wild. ‘Dandelions’ is a perfect display of economy of language and the omnipotence and movement of the oft overlooked golden wildflower.

Relationships are explored in the collection. ‘During The Invasion’ portrays a protective instinct. ‘Woodland’ reads as a poem of longing, potentially of lost love and how we attach meaning to sensory input. ‘We Meet In Spring’ is a wonderful piece. There is so much contained in eight lines.

Karen is deft at using form and formatting to set the pace of individual pieces. ‘Wistful’ and ‘Merlot With The Moon’ are two examples where a change in formatting and use of space adds further depth to the poems. ‘Between Us’ plays with alignment on the page as does ‘Bird Talk’ and many others.


This collection will appeal to anybody who wants to immerse themself in a calmer, less complicated world, even if it’s just for a few minutes away from the chaos, listen to the sounds of the natural world both modern and centuries old. It will also resonate with readers who appreciate rich imagery and expert use of language. It is a triumph.

Favourite Poem:
I have a few in this collection. ‘The Shift’, ‘Between Us’, ‘Dandelions’ and ‘Imperial’ all wrangled for top spot on various days.

To read more about Karen including other works, click here.

To buy Down River with Li Po click here.

As promised, a playlist;

Wong Yiqin – Summer of Jiamusi
Zhou Xiao-Qing – Chinese Dragon
Hong Ting – Lotus Out of Water
Zhang Wei-Liang – Plum Blossom Melody – Three Variations
Yu Xunfa – Six Clappers in Zhong Hua
Joni Mitchell – California
Bruce Springsteen – Goin’ To California
Maxime Le Forestier – San Francisco
John Denver – Country Roads

One More Thing…
Keep an eye out for another poem from June’s featured poet dropping on Monday. If you’ve missed it, catch up on the feature here.

And Another…
I’ll be sending out invites for this month’s Write Here, Right Now writing group meeting this week. If you’d like to know more, drop me a message on social media. We are an inclusive, supportive group.

And Another…
Beautiful Little Fools, an anthology inspired by The Jazz Age, following 100 yeas of the Great Gatsby will be released on 7th July 2025. If you follow me on social media, I’ll be sharing a link when it goes live.

And Finally…
The Winged Moon are open for submissions on the theme of Biophilia until the 2nd of July. More details here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Midden Witch
  • Poet: Fiona Benson

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

Paul