poet

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

The Book Bag: Concealed Pockets – Getting My Work Featured on The BBC

Recently, I took a leap out of my comfort zone.

Let’s start somewhere in the middle…

I took a breath and uploaded a poem to the BBC Upload portal after hearing Helen Laycock and Chris Campbell had appeared on their respective BBC Upload shows previously. It felt like a big step for me in getting my poetry out there to a new audience…

First though, I searched BBC Sounds for BBC Upload, found the North East programme and listened to a lot of episodes over one weekend. Then I had to find out how BBC Upload works. Well it’s a platform to upload poetry, comedy, stories and other content (not music) to the BBC Upload service region your work links to. In total I listened to about 10 episodes over a weekend on BBC Sounds . I loved the clowns/cabaret act interview.

Then I realised I had to make a video to upload. I used some footage from a recent trip to Alnwick Garden and recorded a voiceover of my poems ‘Taihaku Joypiloting at Alnwick Garden’. I did my best to make it presentable using my mobile phone which was just a case of trial and error. And back to taking the the breath and the uploading of the file from the beginning of this post. Confirming I want to proceed then waiting on tenterhooks to see if I could catch the attention of the producers.

A few days later, I got a very warm and friendly email from Emma Millen at BBC North East & Cumbria who curates the BBC Upload for Newcastle and Tees stations for BBC Sounds. Emma offered me an opportunity to go into the studio for a chat about my poetry, and to record some of my work.

On a sunny Friday, I put on one of my best shirts and pair of jeans, shook off some nervous excitement and made my way to BBC Newcastle Studios with the book bag in tow.

When I arrived I was a bit slapstick trying to open every entry door until I buzzed the receptionist who let me in and sorted my visitor badge out. I got to see a TARDIS in the foyer while I waited. Emma collected me and I was taken for my interview in one of the radio station studios. It felt a bit surreal at first, I won’t lie.

Emma and I had a chat where she made me feel really comfortable talking and sharing my work. Then in a flash I’d had been recorded and I was headed home to enjoy the rest of the sunshine.

The episode aired on Saturday 14th June on BBC Radio Newcastle and BBC Radio Tees. Here is a clip of me reading a couple of poems. I’m chuffed to bits with the edit, not to mention Sam Fender – People Watching was the song after my final piece on the radio. I was buzzing. I celebrated with a pink gin and tonic.

The whole process from start to finish was handled so well and I will (hopefully if they’ll have me back) share more work on the platform. It’s a great way to showcase your work and reach a broader audience.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and am truly grateful for the opportunity. Stepping out of the comfort zone every now and then is worthwhile and I would recommend more people try it.

For next time (if there is a next time) I’ll be a bit more organised and stick with the pieces I had originally planned to read because I changed my mind at the last minute.

Huge thanks to Emma for having me on and making me feel calm and relaxed as I could be. Her energy is infectious and that really helped.

To upload your work and get your work featured on BBC Upload visit:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/writers/opportunities/bbc-upload/ and select your area.

Take It Easy and Stay Poetic

Paul

The Book Bag: I Am Not Light by Louise Machen

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic couple of weeks.

What a couple of weeks I’ve had. A trip to the Lakes including taking in Sizergh Castle, Levens Hall and Hill Top, home of Beatrix Potter. Also, my better half and I, celebrated our 15th Wedding Anniversary, I’ve hosted Top Tweet Tuesday, launched The Book Bag: Concealed Pockets, hosted Write Here, Right Now and submitted a couple of pieces and attended Regine Ebner’s online launch of Mountains That See In The Dark that was a delight and had some incredible guest readers. Oh, I was invited to read at a forthcoming launch as well which I’m very excited about and a little shocked.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

I Am Not Light

  • Poet: Louise Machen
  • Press: Black Bough Poetry


I have been a fan of Louise Machen’s work for quite some time after seeing a few pieces online as part of Top Tweet Tuesday. I was especially drawn to the emotion she can weave throughout her poetry. When I found out Louise was slated for a full collection, I kept looking out for the release date. It arrived at the end of May and I ordered immediately. Again I’ve popped an eclectic playlist to listen to further down the page…

Evocative, emotive poetry is Louise’s poetic superpower. The book is filled with strong currents of defiance, conflict and resilience that energise the collection. The pieces ‘A Burnt Child Dreads the Fire’, ‘Becoming An Arborist’ ‘Familial Obligation’ and ‘Dirt’ are just some of the pieces full of impact that make you pause for breath.

Grief is a recurring theme. Not just for the dead but for the living and self. Poems such as ‘A Disremembering’, ‘People Disappear’ and ‘And Then, We Never Spoke Again’ are heartfelt pieces that land with every reading.

Poems throughout the book are relatable, with scenes set so vividly that they feel tangible and immersive. While reading ‘The Queen of Sheba’ I was there, watching the events unfold from the narrator’s perspective, synapses and senses working in unison.  

Aside from the poems grounded in life, readers are treated to broader settings. ‘El Corazon’ transports to the cosmos and back again.

Imagery sets the scene perfectly throughout. Urban reality is displayed sharply and keenly in the pieces ‘1989’ and ‘The Playground’. Then we have pieces such as ‘Dawning’ and ‘A Defunct Radio Station on A Cliff Edge’ which contain stark, rugged coastal beauty.

Nature is in integral throughout but used in various ways and depictions. ‘Moss’, ‘Truth-Telling’ ‘Nightingale’ and ‘Amazonite’ are all great examples.

Form is played with throughout. Contemporary haiku makes an appearance in the piece ‘Shore-bound’. ‘In Pursuit Of Edges’ uses double column formatting to accentuate the delivery. ‘Words Never Spoken’ is a piece that uses space on the page to great effect. I should also mention ‘Splinters’ that discusses the role of narrator in Louise’s work. A tremendous piece.

This is a collection that is intimate drawing you into a swell of emotion and poetic mastery. It has broad appeal for lovers of evocative poetry who appreciate expert use of language and vivid imagery. It’s already been nominated by Black Bough for a Forward Prize. A cracking collection that overflows with quality. Buy it here.

Find out more about Louise Machen including other publications here.

Playlist

Oasis – Cigarettes and Alcohol
Ocean Colour Scene – The Riverboat Song
Massive Attack – Teardrop
Fleetwood Mac – Landslide
Cher – Just Like Jesse James
Salt + Pepa – Push It
Deacon Blue – Dignity
Madonna – Who’s That Girl
The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony
Garbage – Special
Blondie – Maria
Stevie Nicks – Edge of Seventeen
Queen – The Show Must Go On
Elton John – I’m Still Standing
Taylor Dayne – Tell It To My Heart
Sam Fender – People Watching


Favourite Poem:

Again a collection this packed, I have to choose more than one. ‘I Am Not Light’, followed by ‘The Tenth Muse’, ‘Rebel Glow’ and ‘Cherry Bakewell For The Fire Gods’.

One More Thing…

Louise Machen recently hosted Top Tweet Tuesday with a prompt to respond to the title poem from I Am Not Light. You can read my response here.

And Another…

A busy week for Louise. On Sunday she has an audiobook being released alongside Shakquile, Noor Iman & Culain Wood called ‘Which Way The Words Grow’. Available on all major platforms.

And Another…

Vikki C. is the current featured Silver Branch Writer on Black Bough Poetry. Read her captivating work here where you can also learn how she crafts her writing.

And Another…

A couple of weeks ago, I visited BBC Newcastle and recorded some poetry for BBC Upload. I’ll be sharing my experience next weekend. In the meantime you can listen here.

And Finally…

Have you been keeping up to date with The Book Bag: Poetic Voices? A new poem from Matthew MC Smith was added yesterday and is poignant and highly relevant. Read the poem here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Lode
  • Poet: Gillian Allnutt

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

Paul

Black Swan

After Louise Machen’s ‘I Am Not Light’

Stale streams of striplights flicker—
febrile, buzzing like midges—
soundtrack the waiting room.

Swans crane their necks
toward a droughted hell
wings cupped in prayer
for what must be the first time
in years.

Cornflower bluebirds skitter
faster than waterfalls,
chirping names;
a few heads look up—ruffled-eyes
blinking away sorrow-grit,
they glide solemnly,
signets held pinion-close.

By the time I’m called,
I’m trapped in
viscose oilspill thought-pollution
too heavy to featherspread and fly,
too scared to inhale truths —
exhale finalities.

I am not light,
I am the weight of masculine expectation,
so I don my taxidermy mask.

Smile.

The Book Bag: When It Rained For A Million Years By Paul Farley

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

This week has been busy. Bank Holiday blustery winds almost sent my towels into next doors garden, I got an acceptance and a rejection,  saw some oystercatcher chicks fledge from the nest near work and attended the Broken Spine Arts open mic on Thursday evening. Also, I started anniversary celebrations with a visit to a very special restaurant. Details on that in couple of weeks maybe.

I also launched The Book Bag: Poetic Voices. If you’re yet to read, each month will feature a different Poet, showcasing an exemplary piece of poetry. I’m really excited for the names coming up and chuffed to bits that Matthew MC Smith agreed to be the inaugural Poetic Voice.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

When It Rained For A Million Years

  • Poet: Paul Farley
  • Press: Picador

Sometimes a book cover or title will grab you. This is what happened when I saw ‘When It Rained For A Million Years’. Both grabbed my attention, and as I read the back cover, I thought, yes this will do. In all honesty, I hadn’t picked up a Paul Farley book prior to this purely because I hadn’t come across his work. Something I will be rectifying.

Again, I’ve popped a playlist that I listened to whilst reading this as it was well received from last week’s episode.

There are some real impactful and emotionally charged poems within the collection including ‘Source’. The piece ‘Difficult To Enter House’ felt heavy and I had to take a few minutes to breathe before continuing reading. Another excellent example is ‘Our Father Showed Us Sea Level’, that had a different sort of weight.

Farley peppers humour throughout the book whether tongue in cheek or satire. I chuckled a while after reading ‘Turkeys’ and ‘Attack of The Fifty-Foot Poem’. However, these pieces are multi levelled and on second reading you find more and so it continues.

The imagery on display in this book is vivid and potent. Pieces such as ‘Wagtail Roost’ and ‘Cheshire Oaks Outlet Village’ and ‘Corncrakes’ are perfect examples. The poem ‘Cross Bedding, Between Edge Hill and Liverpool’ is another that I was drawn to. A marvel.

The landscape plays an integral role in this collection. The settings aren’t pastoral. Farley uses industrial backdrops (his bio does mention he is from Liverpool) to great effect, and they seem familiar. Liverpool and Newcastle are similar in terms of industrial heritage. Poems such as ‘King Carbon’ and ‘The Workaround’ (which takes us back in time and to the North East) shine a spotlight on these often-overlooked places. On a side note, the people of Liverpool have my thoughts after the horrific scenes following the bus parade.

References to pop culture appear throughout the collection. The poem ‘Usher’ takes us into the cinema of the early 90s. Each stanza headed with a movie title. Zoom pops up in the piece ‘Gorilla’ and ‘Horde’ gives readers an 80s soundtrack.



Form and style take on various forms throughout the book. One of my favourite examples of this is ‘The Execution of Anne Boleyn, Airfix 1:12’. A meticulous piece that I almost lost my head at.

Here’s the small playlist I enjoyed when reading this book.


David Bowie – Space Oddity
The Beatles – Hey Jude
Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
Sting & The Police – Roxanne
Fleetwood Mac – Landslide
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
Elton John – I’m Still Standing
Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In The Dark
De La Soul – Me, Myself & I
Duran Duran – The Living Daylights
Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now
The Human League – Don’t You Want Me

This collection has broad appeal. I would recommend it to poetry readers who enjoy vivid imagery, humour and emotion woven through excellently crafted multi-layered pieces.

Favourite Poem

Again, I’m choosing a few this week. Bubblewrap, Trth and Where the Owl Sleeps and the Spiders Nest.

One More Thing…

Your regular episode of The Book Bag will be taking a break for next week as my wife and I are celebrating our anniversary. See below for the cracking book I’ll be reading for the next entry.

And Another…

I’d love some audiobook and podcast recommendations to listen to during travelling. Let me know on social media or in a comment below if you have one.

And Finally…

I’d like to say a huge congratulations to all poets who were on the longlist and the prize-winners for the Rialto Nature & Place competition that was recently announced. It was great to see Book Bag poets Matt Gilbert & Victoria Spires amongst the names.

The Next Read Coming on 15th June 2025

  • Title: I Am Not Light
  • Poet: Louise Machen

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

Paul