poetry review

The Book Bag: After Party by Dean Browne

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.

To read more on Dean Browne click here.

To buy After Party, click here.

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.

Paul

The Book Bag: Birds | Humans | Machines | Dolphins by Genevieve Carver

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

What a busy week. It always feels that way when you go back to work after a break!

I was lucky enough to host imagist extravaganza TopTweetTuesday and read & hear some fantastic pieces. It’s a great platform to experiment with your poetry. I also took part in Fragment Fridays to get in some writing practice and woke up on Saturday to the news that my poem was joint 3rd with the incredible Regine Ebner this week. This weekend I dedicated to working on my own writing (and the Tyne-Wear derby). On top of that, I got a Forward prize nomination from Full House Literary! I’m still buzzing at this incredible news.

I’ve added a nightly reading hour to my schedule this week, to take a break from screens. The first book I read was Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These and got engrossed, so I finished it in a sitting. An excellent book.

The finishing touches are being added to the anthology. I’m so excited to share it with the world on March 31st. The quality of writing is incredible, and the poets have been a joy to communicate and work with.

There’s been some sunshine and warmth in Newcastle. It makes a massive difference. At the allotment we have planted some vegetables and salad items. We’re also ready to pot on the tomatoes and have bought the grow bags ready for the greenhouse.

We also installed my bat box in the back garden. I hope we get some pipistrelles nesting.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Birds | Humans | Machines | Dolphins

  • Poet: Genevieve Carver
  • Press: Guillemot Press


I was sent a copy of Birds | Humans | Machines | Dolphins as a recommendation of something I would enjoy reading by Leia from Full House Literary. Leia was not wrong.

There is some exceptionally emotive poetry in the book that never strays across cliche ‘Concurrences’ is a perfect example of this. The piece ‘ROV’ (one of my favourites) triggered a physical emotional reaction. I had to take a reading break and have a tea. The closing piece ‘~whistle~’ is a triumph in showing multiple emotional states across a single poem.

Humour can be found across the pages. Two of my favourites ‘Please Do Not Anthropomorphise The Animals’ and ‘~buzz~’ are great examples. In fact I’ve felt like the closing to ‘~buzz~’ on a few occasions the past couple of weeks!

Excerpt from ~buzz~

We are treated to wonderful imagery through sound and movement. In the pieces ‘~echolocation click~’, ‘Beatrice’ and ‘Ringing a Fulmar’ readers are immersed in vivid scenes with added feeling of motion.

Form and style is played with excellently throughout the book. ‘Hazard Risk Assessment’ is an excellent multi-poem spread across grid paper. It is little touches like this that can elevate books. In the Machines section, the font is amended to a retro robotic style. I read some of the pieces in this section in an internal voice resembling an android. This font coupled with the formatting of ‘C-Pod’ (one of my favourites) gave it a real sense of a tickertape.

This is an exceptional book that nature lovers will thoroughly enjoy. Fans of evocative , emotionally engaged poetry will appreciate the layered and clever writing throughout. Poetics who admire playfulness with form and a hybrid style will love this book. This is a marvellous read.

Favourite Poem:

I’ve already mentioned ‘ROV’, ‘C-Pod’, ‘Please Do Not Anthropomorphise The Animals’ and ‘~buzz~’. I’ll also add ‘Hydrophone’, ‘Postcards From A Fulmar’ and ‘Field Log’. Every poem in this is top class.

To read more about Genevieve Carver click here.

If you want to buy Birds | Humans | Machines | Dolphins, click here.

You’ve stayed for the playlist? This week’s eclectic mix was a mix of pop, rock and dance…

Passenger – Two Beautiful Birds
The Foo Fighters – Learn To Fly
Imagine Dragons – On Top Of The World
Florence & The Machine – Dog Days Are Over
James Blunt – Postcards
Shed Seven – Dolphin
Beyoncé – Single Ladies
10CC – I’m Not In Love
Adele – Rolling In The Deep
Elephant Micah – Field Notes
Deepest Blue – Deepest Blue
Ultra Naté – Free

Before I Go…

Have you kept up with Vikki C’s Poetic Voice feature? Her final poem was added on World Poetry Day on Saturday. Read the feature in full here.

One More Thing…

The Last Saturday Poets is coming up on 28th March 2026. Details and tickets of the stellar lineup can be found here.

And Another…

Have you checked out Rebecca Leek’s podcast, The Ditty Bag yet? It’s available to listen to via her Substack here. It’s a great way to discover poets and poems, new and old.

And Finally…

Eleanor Holmes online launch of #Moth is in April. I’m delighted to have been asked to be part of the reading line up which includes some fascinating poets including Sarah Raybould and Elizabeth Osmond. Full details and tickets are available here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: After Party
  • Poet: Dean Browne

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Circulaire by Bex Hainsworth

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

What a week. Bristol for a conference and back again. A lot of train travel (where I got to talk to some great people and listen to their stories). It did mean I got to meet up with the man, the myth, Matthew MC Smith for a catchup. Did I get lost walking to the restaurant I had picked? Yes! Was it a good choice though? Yes!

Aside from my whistle stop 23 hours in Bristol, I spent a little time editing some of my own work and emailing all the wonderful poets who submitted to the Unwhispered Legacy Anthology. The decisions were immensely tough to make.

At the end of the week, I had a nice chilled out time reading, writing, puzzling, painting and listening to Coltrane.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Circulaire

  • Poet: Bex Hainsworth
  • Press: Written Off Publishing

Circulaire is Bex Hainsworth’s second book, following on from her success with Walrussey. I’ve been reading Bex’s work for a while and have heard her read several times at online open mics. If you get the chance to hear her, take it. Her poetry is authentic, relatable and accessible.

One of the primary themes throughout the book is womanhood. ‘Calf’ is an excellent poem that starts with a frozen water bottle which made me very emotional. ‘Daphne’ is another piece that looks at the power dynamics between women and men.

Grief is a thread throughout the collection and is dealt with in several ways. The poems ‘Lemon Tree in The Algarve’ and ‘Pourrir’ are captivating works that make you pause. ‘Learning Curve’ is poetry that bears a soul on the page and it made me well up on the train.

Another piece in this collection that carries weight is ‘The House of Peace’, a poem centred around a visit to the National Holocaust Museum. You can feel every word.

Bex paints vivid scenery and immerses readers in her poetry. A striking sensory palette in the piece ‘Santarcangelo di Romagna’ is transportative and had me eyeing up flights. In ‘Pebbles’ readers are treated to a warm and loving beach walk that you can visualise spectacularly. The title poem ‘Circulaire’ (one of my favourites) is another cinematic vision that combines place, time and relationships.

Relationships are explored throughout the book. The poem ‘Breaking Up’ looks at the reality of losing a friend through a breakup. ‘Cysterhood’ is a gentle poem of sisterly understanding. In the piece ‘Camping’ (one of my favourites) readers are treated to a glimpse into the burgeoning of love. It’s an poem that is brimming with relatability and authenticity.

Styles and form vary. The piece ‘Shortbread’ (one of my favourites) uses couplets to move the poem along while allowing reflection. In ‘Ode to Plantar Fasciitis’ Bex uses couplets again but breaks lines unexpectedly so you build anticipation to read the next line because you want need to know what’s coming.

This collection will appeal to readers who love authenticity in their poetry. The pieces feel familiar and relatable. If you want emotion that makes you feel it in your heart, this is a book for you. Fans of poetry on womanhood will love this collection. This book is an excellent addition to anyone who likes contemporary writing and in my opinion is a masterclass on poetry about life.

Favourite Poem:

I’ve already mentioned ‘Camping’, ‘Circulaire’ and ‘Shortbread’ so I’ll add another handful based on my thoughts as I write this (I could add so many more). ‘Séance’, ‘We Leave Each Other Moons’, ‘Life, Death and the Struggle For Stellar Survival’, ‘Yorkshire Puddings’ and ‘Marriage Preparation Class When Loving For A Second Time’. And I have to include ‘Learning Curve’ for the physical, emotional response it triggered.

To learn more about Bex, click here.

To buy Circulare, click here.

Looking for a playlist to listen to in the background when reading Circulaire? Look no further…

Johnny Cash – I Walk The Line
Alexander Courage & Gene Roddenberry – Star Trek Theme
P!nk – Just Give Me A Reason
Ash – Shining Light
Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby
Delirium featuring Sarah McLachlan – Silence (Tiesto’s In Search of Sunrise Remix)
Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill
Pulp – Common People
David Bowie – Space Oddity
Kasabian – Fire
Amy Macdonald – The Hope
Coldplay – The Scientist
David Gray – Babylon

Before I Go…

If you’re looking for an evening of poetry on Saturday 31st January, Louise Longson is hosting a special online birthday celebration of Iamb, the incredibly curated platform run by Mark Anthony Owen. The line up is fantastic. Full details here.

Or if you’re in or close to Merseyside on Saturday, Alan Parry and the Broken Spine are hosting Poetry & Pints at The Grasshopper in Southport between 7 & 9pm featuring Martin Kennedy Yates and Jay Rafferty with open mic slots available. Check out details here.

One More Thing…

A quick reminder that submissions for the Black Bough Christmas / Winter anthology open on Wednesday. I’m excited to read excellent work. Read the guidelines carefully here.

And Another…

Reader and Audience tickets are still available for The Book Bag Open Mic Sessions: Session 3. Details here.

And Another…

Chris Campbell, writer of All Island, No Sea and Why I Wear My Past To Work is currently offering mentoring. This is a great opportunity to develop your craft with an incredible poet. Details here.

And Finally…

Next Sunday is a double whammy as the read will be released at 8am and the first Poetic Voice of the year will be released at noon.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: The How In The World
  • Poet: Louise Longson

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Songs from Last Imaginations by Dorian Nightingale

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

Well it’s good to be back after a good Christmas break where I’ve slowed down a little. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve hosted Write Here, Right Now, hosted another instalment of The Book Bag Open Mic Sessions, attended a Black Bough poetry bootcamp for planning how I’ll make the most of the year to come.

I’ve also been lucky enough to be welcomed by Matthew MC Smith to be a guest sub-editor for Black Bough’s Christmas / Winter Anthology . Last weekend I attended a workshop facilitated by the excellent Vanessa Napolitano, then on Sunday (pre open mic) I read at a Winged Moon launch event.

Due to the weather, the allotment progress has been a little slow, but the ground is thawing and the plot is just about ready for spring planting. We did get the start of a climbing bean arch in last week.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Songs From Last Imaginations

  • Poet: Dorian Nightingale
  • Press: Flight of the Dragonfly Press

I’ve been following Dorian’s work for a while now and was over the moon when he announced his book was coming out with Flight of the Dragonfly. Songs from Last Imaginations is a pamphlet of poetry and terrifically curated photography.

Dorian’s major strength is his sound patterning built on a base of incredibly lyrical and melodic language. Poems including ‘One’, ‘Narcissus’ and ‘Sparks’ (one of my favourites) are all prime examples of this using sibilance, alliteration, variations on rhyme. Also, I’ll drop a special mention for ‘Clair de Lune’ as being a gem of a poem (this is the first piece of music I learnt on the saxophone).

There is a vibrancy in the imagery of this collection. ‘A Day At The Beach’ is energetic with quick rhyme in the opening, pulling to a slower pace by the closing line. ‘Deep Blue Day’ is a slower paced piece from the start but maintains attention due to rich, vivid language.

The pamphlet does not shy away from complex emotions. ‘Round and Around’ is an accomplished piece using the spin of a vinyl record as metaphor for waiting and longing incredibly well. ‘In Bloom’ is a great poem on resilience and creates a distinct engaging tone.

Form and style are played with throughout. White space is used to its maximum in the poem ‘Nobody Home’ and in ‘Airlock’ the slash method of line breaks is used to break up the text. The language contained within the pamphlet is incredibly considered and rich. ‘Reverie’ and ‘Reckoner’ are both exemplary in demonstrating this.

The photography included in the book has been carefully considered, adding visual beauty through simple, unfussy images. I’ll also mention the musical scales included in the pamphlet that tie into the theme and ambition of this book.

This book will be a hit with readers of lyrical poetry who appreciate immersive scenery and emotive pieces. These are poems to read aloud and have fun with, test your cadence and style reading speed and style for each one several times and see how they can alter. A wonderful pamphlet to kick off 2026.

Favourite Poem:

There’s a few pieces in this pamphlet. I’ve mentioned ‘Sparks’ already so I’ll add ‘Swan Song’, ‘You’, ‘Spellbound’, ‘The Final Cut’ and ‘Little Wing’.

You can find more on Dorian, here.

Dorian’s pamphlet can be bought here.

And for the first playlist of the year, here’s an eclectic mix to go with Dorian’s exceptional book based on my interpretation and some of Dorian’s musical inspiration (listed in the acknowledgements).

Bob Dylan – Visions of Johanna
Bruce Springsteen – The River
Röyksopp – Eple
David Bowie – Wild is the Wind
Portishead – Roads
U2 – The Sweetest Thing
Phoebe Bridgers – I Know the End
Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Duke Ellington – Sophisticated Lady
Led Zeppelin – Good Times Bad Times
Claude Debussy – Clair de Lune

Before I Go…

It seems The Book Bag Open Mic Sessions are proving popular. Tickets for session 3, taking place on Sunday 8th March 2026 at 7pm, are now on sale and can be bought here. Spaces are limited. Don’t want to read? You can enjoy as an audience member for free.

One More Thing…

You may remember I signed on to assist the team at Frazzled Lit for the fourth issue. Well it’s out in the world and can be read here. It was an honour to be asked and read some excellent writing.

And Another…

The submission window for Black Bough’s Christmas / Winter Anthology 7 opens on 28th January and runs until 1st February. Full details can be found here. Read the guidelines and send your very best work to appear in an always excellent anthology.

And Finally…

I’d love to know what poetry books you got for Christmas. Did you get any from The Christmas Gift List? Is there a title I should be featuring on The Book Bag? Drop me a message in the comments.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Circulaire
  • Poet: Bex Hainsworth

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Make Up My Mind by Leia Butler

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

Well, what an exciting week. The Christmas Gift List went live last Sunday. If you haven’t read it yet, you can here. Feedback has been highly positive, and it could return in 2026. Let me know what you think.

I was so happy to welcome December’s Poetic Voice, Sophie Dumont, who is kindly sharing work from her profound collection Sculling. Read the first part of the feature here. Also, Sculling is one of my picks in the Christmas Gift List. An outstanding debut.

The submission window opened and closed for the Unwhispered Legacy anthology. I’m looking forward to reading and curating pieces and launching in Spring 2026.

I had some acceptances, my piece ‘Midnight Swingball’ made it out into the world with Ink, Sweat and Tears, I also had some excellent news about a Pushcart nomination for my poem ‘Of A Darkening’ which was unexpected and delightful.

We got over to the allotment despite the weather and were able to harvest the last of the radishes and plant our rhubarb crowns. We also picked and decorated our Christmas tree which was proper festive fun. I’ve already started watching vintage Christmas tv and movies.

How good was the full moon this week? Apparently, it was an extreme supermoon and the next time that occurs is 2042.

To top off a great week, I’ve been reading;

Make Up My Mind

  • Poet: Leia Butler
  • Press: Steel Incisors


Leia Butler is a super talented poet and editor. You may know her from her role as head editor at the excellent Full House Literary magazine or from previous collections including ‘Thoughts I Lost in The Laundry’ (Stanchion, 2024) and ‘Tear and Share’ (Broken Sleep Books, 2021). If you get the chance to hear her read at an open mic or online, her conversational style really shines through. Also, Leia has been highly supportive of my poetry journey and The Book Bag.

Make Up My Mind is a visual poetry collection that sparks a vibrant kaleidoscope of makeup across the pages giving a fresh and inventive feel.

Within the book Leia examines perception and critique and how this informs life. The pieces ‘Frequently ignored questions’ and ‘Take these as compliments’ are a commentary on social and societal attitudes to women and are stark.

Self is explored in pieces including ‘Unfortunately I don’t have it’ in the form of a letter to their childhood self and deals with loss of identity. Also, in ‘If I’m being honest. I’m not good at anything’ looks at insecurity and the worry that those insecurities will be identified by another.

‘How do I type into google’ is an effective piece demonstrating anxiety and drawing empathy from the reader. The poem ‘I don’t get embarrassed’ is a terrific commentary on how micro events can result in a physical state of unease. The repetition of ‘I’m blushing’ creates that sense of unease that embarrassment brings.

The poetry across these pages contains lots of wit and humour. I chuckled reading the piece ‘Yes, I chose this mug especially for the call’ (one of my favourites) because it’s authentic and relatable. This is also the case in ‘What do you do of a Saturday evening’, a poem that so many will appreciate and identify with.

‘Inheritance that lasts’ is a poignant piece examining grief and how it can materialise in memory tied to objects. ‘You’ve not lost yet, but you will’ is another powerful piece about how grief can overcome you during unexpected moments.

Fans of form are treated to a hybrid visual / poetic style that plays with shape. ‘When I turn 23 I’ll be so fucking cool’ is one of the examples where a makeup palette is combined with a list poem to great effect. The visual shadowing of words emphasis through echo in pieces such as ‘Apply, carefully, it stains.’ and ‘We will never argue when we get married’. The combination of evocative language and bursts of colour heightens urgency and mood. The piece ‘Keep it all inside’ about bottling emotions, showcases this expertly.

This is a book that will appeal to fans of relatable poetry with a deep emotional underpinning, lovers of visual poetry hybrid form, readers with a sense of humour. It will also resonate with poetic who appreciate work that explores self and society. This is a marvel of a book that would make an excellent Christmas present. Buy it.

Favourite Poem: I’ll include a handful of poems this week from myself and a bonus favourite from Mrs S who also loved this collection. So, to go with ‘Yes, I chose this mug especially for the call’, I’ll add‘I’m telling you the truth!’, ‘Warning!’, ‘I met all the best people accidentally’ , ‘You’ve got the job’ and ‘No I’m actually never angry’.

Mrs S’ Bonus Favourite: ‘What do you do of a Saturday evening’.

To buy Make Up My Mind, on eBook click here or in paperback, click here.

You can learn more about Leia by visiting her website here. And don’t forget to check out Full House Literary if you haven’t already done so.

And, of course, it wouldn’t be a regular entry in The Book Bag without a playlist. So here is my recommended listening:

Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe
Lily Allen – Smile
Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
Blink 182 – All The Small Things
Charlie Puth – Lipstick
Destiny’s Child – Mascara
Nina Simone – Feeling Good
Amy Winehouse – Valerie
Disclosure featuring Gregory Porter – Holding On
Wolf Alice – Don’t Delete The Kisses
Miley Cyrus – Flowers
Fleetwood Mac – The Chain

Before I Go…
In my Christmas Gift List I mentioned the Christmas Winter Anthology from Black Bough Poetry. Well it has been released and is available in hardback and paperback. Full details and links to buy, can be found here. It’s a special collection.

One More Thing…
Black Bough is launching the collection on Sunday 14th December 2025 from 5pm (GMT). Tickets are free. Sign up here.

And Finally…
Tickets are still available for The Book Bag Open Mic Session 2. Share roughcut coals or polished gems in a supportive environment. Details can be found here.

Next Week: Something a little bit different…

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

Paul

The Book Bag: With Love, Grief and Fury by Salena Godden

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

I’ve had quite the week.

On Sunday, I popped into Barter Books in Alnwick to drop in some books, (I ended up buying more than I left) then we went for a walk along Alnmouth Beach where I tripped over some jetty railings and landed knee and face first. My shin currently has a bruise the shape of Italy. The walk was worth it though because I got this photo of the North Sea with Coquet Island lit up by a soft November sun in the distance.

Oh, I also got a wonderful message from Leia at Full House Literary informing me that ‘Updraft’ had been nominated for the Pushcart. Thank you to everyone who congratulated me also, it means a lot.

Thursday’s Write Here, Right Now was terrific. I gave five obscure prompts to work on, we worked in WiP then had the feedback session. I love the perspectives and insight that members provide that make you look at a piece in a completely different way. It was also fantastic to welcome two new members.

On Friday, the Christmas List window closed. I’ll be sharing the list next week and this will be in place of the regular book bag. The list has terrific variety and something for everyone.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;


With Love, Grief and Fury
• Poet: Salena Godden
• Press: Canongate

Salena Godden is a force of nature. An incredible poet, novelist, activist and many other things. Last weekend, I picked up a copy of With Love, Grief and Fury after listening to Mrs Death Misses Death on audiobook and loving it. Let’s jump in…

As the title suggests readers are submerged in a pool of evolving emotions throughout the book. The link between the main themes of love, fury & grief is evident and used to excellent effect with authenticity. A standout piece that delivers a maelstrom of emotional turmoil is ‘Five Words’. I had to stop reading for the night after reading this.

Salena Godden’s storytelling is a major superpower. Her prose pieces including ‘Camden’, ‘October Tape Experiment’ and ‘You Made A Fuss’ are transportative and immersive. The poem ‘Sun Cream In February’ is a cutting observation starting with baked beans and ending with elephants and existentialism.

Vivid imagery is on display throughout the collection. The pieces that form the ‘With Love, Grief and Fury’ sequence and ‘Autumn’s Secretary’ demonstrate this as does ‘And The Moon Don’t Talk To Me’ Anymore. One of my favourites is ‘Dog Days Done’, it has an authentic hope.

Societal expectations and social issues are questioned and answered throughout the book. The poems ‘Book Mother’ and ‘Egg and Spoon Race’ tackle expectations on women. The piece ‘Wish You Were Here’ is a stark piece that takes in the pandemic and the decline in social etiquette / behaviour that came with it. ‘Dirty Old Men’ is a gritty and grimy indictment on objectification and justice.

Form and style is varied throughout. I’ve already mentioned prose pieces. Readers are also treated to breathless streams of consciousness poems, list poems and pieces that use the page differently such as ‘One Hundred and Nine’ or the screenplay ‘2084’.

The use of language and vocabulary is expert, I’ve jotted down a couple of new words to use in future poems. I may write a couple of ‘After’ poems in response to some of the pieces in this book.

There are so many topics and themes I could go into but that would take me a year. What I will say is, this is top class writing. In the top 5 books I’ve read this year.

This book will appeal to readers who enjoy relatable, honest poetry that approaches real issues with excellent effect. It is a collection rich with emotion and immersive storytelling. There are tender moments, fierce moments, defiant moments. A title that whispers and shouts. Once read, you will want to keep returning, time and again.

Favourite Poem:

I’ve already mentioned ‘Dog Days Done’. I could choose many more but based on today’s feeling, I’ll go with another seven. ‘Camden’, ‘The Girl In The Green Cardigan’ ,‘Bit On The Side’, ‘Evergreen Tea’, ‘Burned’, ‘1999’ and the ‘With Love, Grief and Fury’ sequence. But really I can’t stop there so another few that just popped into my head are; ‘City of Water’, ‘Cake’, ‘Sakura’, ‘A Small Kindness’, ‘Kimono’ and ‘2084’.

To read more about Salena, click here.

To buy With Love, Grief and Fury, click here.

Are you looking for this week’s playlist? Well this is a bumper eclectic mix to enjoy whilst reading:

The Jam – That’s Entertainment
Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen In Love
The Ramones – Sheena is a Punk
Madness – It Must Be Love
Annie Lennox – Why
John Coltrane – My Favourite Things
Bruno Mars – Marry You
Joni Mitchell – Got Til It’s Gone
Marianne Faithfull – Why D’Ya Do It
Florence and the Machine – Dog Days Are Over
Elton John – Your Song
The Commitments – Mustang Sally
Prince & The Revolution – Purple Rain
Chaka Khan – I’m Every Woman
Fatboy Slim – Praise You
Sade – Kiss of Life
David Bowie – Rebel, Rebel
Bryan Ferry – Love Is The Drug
Beyonce & Andre 3000 – Back to Black
Little Roy – Come As You Are

Before I Go…
If you want to be part of the next Book Bag open mic, I’m pleased to announce that tickets for The Book Bag: Open Mic Sessions – Session 2 are now on sale and can be bought here.

One More Thing…
If you missed it, the bonus poem from Rebecca Goss has been added to her Poetic Voices feature. I’m priveliged to showcase exquisite work on The Book Bag. Read here.

And Another…
On Saturday 29th November, I’ll be reading alongside some outstanding poets who are launching their books at Louise Longson’s Last Saturday Poets. Tickets are available here.

And Finally…
Have you got poems ready for the Unwhispered Anthology 48-hour submission window which opens next weekend? Guidelines and details here.

Next Week:

  • The Book Bag Christmas List

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

Paul

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

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

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

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

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

The Liminal Light Of The Night

  • Poet: Carmella de Keyser
  • Press: Hedgehog Poetry Press

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

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

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

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

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

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

Favourite Poem:

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

To read more about Carmella, click here.

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

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

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

Before I Go…

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

One More Thing…

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

And Another…

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

And Finally…

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

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Fourth & Walnut
  • Poet: Jeremy Over

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Held Inside The Folds Of Time by Merril D. Smith

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

Well, this has been a week. On Sunday, I attended the Black Bough open mic and read a couple of pieces. I then had a half day leave from work on Monday where we took Brody to the vets for a checkup and boosters. He’s healthy but he really doesn’t like the vets.

Yesterday, the excellent Full House Literary launched their new issue, which contains one of my poems. I’m beyond happy to share pages with incredible writers. Read the issue here.

I’ve also been lucky to announce the new Poetic Voice for November as Rebecca Goss. The feature is here and another poem will be added soon.

I did manage to send off a few submissions this week too.

It’s been Halloween; we didn’t get many trick-or-treaters and a couple we did have were in my opinion too old to be trick or treating. There were some great costumes including 2 inflatable dinosaurs. Also, I saw some excellent fireworks going off in the surrounding area. Brody likes staring out the back window watching the colours explode.

And at the allotment the fruit cage has been wired, the cold frame is ready and our green manure is growing well. There will be a big change next week though…

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Held Inside The Folds Of Time

  • Poet: Merril D. Smith
  • Press: Jane’s Studio Press

I’ve been a fan of Merril for a longtime, first reading her work on TopTweetTuesday some time ago. Not only is Merril a fantasy poet but is also very generous in her support to others, not just in poetry but in activism too. If you get the chance to hear her read, take it.

One of Merril’s key strengths is the ability to place so much emotion into her poetry. The pieces ‘To America’, an intimate and heartfelt poem and ‘May Morning’, a colourful landscape of sound are exquisite examples of this. ‘Sparrows’ is a breathtaking and heart-wrenching piece.

Merril is deft at crafting vivid poetry that immerses the reader in scenes that feel familiar. The poems ‘Cross-Quarter Days’ and ‘Topography’ are tremendous examples of this. One of my favourite pieces in the book ‘In Memoriam: for the Unknown Soldiers at Red Bank Battlefield’, stands out for imagery that connects multiple threads.

When Merril goes cosmic on scale in the pieces ‘Long Nights, The Stars Too Far’, ‘His Shirt’ and ‘All and After’ we are treated to wonderful interplay between scientific, delicate and romantic language.

There is a real sense of connection in the collection. This is across time and in various settings. The poem ‘Echoes’ is multi-sensory and highlights how sharing food can link people across generations. ‘Roads and Flights’ parallel the natural world and humanity and demonstrate how everything is linked.

In terms of styles, Merril makes use of free verse as well as different forms including a golden shovel in ‘That Time’, short form in ‘Daylilies’ and some ekphrasis in ‘Clasped and Cradled’ (inspired by recent Book Bag poet, Karen Pierce Gonzalez). But it’s not just poetry we are given in this book, but incredible photography taken by Merril herself. There’s also some lovely art within the pages.

This book has wide appeal, notably for the visceral, emotive and vivid poetry that lingers a while. If you want to feel a sense of connection, buy this book, if you like the thought of cosmic scale poetry that is epic and intimate simultaneously buy this book. Also, fans of photography will appreciate this book. A fantastic collection with pieces that cling to the mind like a fine November drizzle. A perfect gift for the festive season.

Favourite Poem:

I’ve already mentioned In Memoriam: for the Unknown Soldiers at Red Bank Battlefield’ but I’ve also got a few more to mention. I’ll add ‘At The Corner of First and Always’, ‘In Paris and Beyond’, ‘The Power of Gravity and Light’, ‘This Is Not—and Is’, ‘Letter From My Mom’ and ‘Horses’.

To find out more about Merril, her regular and very interesting blog is here.

To learn more about the press, click here.

To buy Held Inside The Folds Of Time, click here.

Oh, are you looking for a playlist to read along to? Well you’re in luck because I’ve curated an eclectic mix for you:

Coldplay – The Scientist
Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run
The Clash – London Calling
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra – Paris Blues
Edith Piaf – La Vie En Rose
Guns ‘N’ Roses – Civil War
Gil Scott-Heron – The Revolution Will Not be Televised
The Honey Drippers – Impeach The President
Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi
Stevie Nicks – Landslide
David Bowie – Space Oddity
Carole King – You’ve Got A Friend

Before I Go…
Issue five of The Storms Journal launched this past week. Merril is one of the poets to have work in it. I’ve been following the artist reveals on Instagram and it’s a stellar collection. I’m just waiting for my copy to arrive. Details here.

One More Thing…
You can help support poets and presses as well as provide gift ideas for fellow poetics by submitting to the The Book Bag Christmas List. Details here.

And Another…
Matthew M.C. Smith, EIC of Black Bough Poetry is hosting another of their Crafting Your Year In Poetry workshops on November 16th. 2025. I attended one of the workshops and it has really helped me to develop my practise. I along with others highly recommend it. Details here.

And Finally…
Just a reminder for all the poets, that the submission window for The Book Bag X Write Here, Right Now: Unwhispered Legacy Anthology opens at the end of the month, details here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: The Liminal Light Of The Night
  • Poet: Carmella De Keyser

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Wonderful by Harry Baker

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Wonderful

  • Poet: Harry Baker
  • Press: Burning Eye Books

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can buy Wonderful here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Next Week’s Read

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

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

Paul

The Book Bag: A Wide River Divides Us By Gill Barr

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

It’s been a productive week in the allotment with strawberry runners being planted, the fruit cage being finalised and the cold frame started. Things are taking shape.

Last Sunday we went to Wallington, a National Trust property not far from Morpeth. It was a perfect day for a long autumn walk. We also got to take in the photography exhibition dotted throughout the East Wood. I may write an ekphrastic piece about one of the images. The below, I took on my phone. I think it sums up autumn in Northumberland.

My copy of Anarkiss Vol.9 arrived (I have 3 pieces in the zine) and it is filled with excellent art, poetry and essays. I’ve also done some planning and sent off a couple of submissions. I am thoroughly loving reading for Frazzled Lit, and have been lucky to read some terrific poetry.

At work, I’ve had some big news (good) and the intense spell has trailed off into a busy period of identifying and implementing improvements. I also got some really lovely feedback from a colleague that almost had me welling up.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

A Wide River Divides Us

  • Poet: Gill Barr
  • Press: Cinnamon Press


I first heard poems from this collection at an open mic over zoom and was captivated by Gill’s reading and the subject matter.

A Wide River Divides Us is a debut collection that examines the history of Derry/Londonderry during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. It is a compelling witness statement told from a narrative perspective beginning in childhood through to adulthood.  

Although there is danger in these pages, notably in pieces including ‘Soldier Doll’, ‘Why We Leave Cook Terrace’ and ‘Coleraine’ there is also a huge degree of resilience and community. This can be seen in the poems ‘Isolated Shooting Incident’ and ‘Keep Walking’. The retelling of events is handled is authentic, you can feel every word and emotion. You get all of Gill’s experience through vivid imagery that at times is startling including in ‘Claudy’ and ‘A Dance Lesson’ compared to ‘Delay’ which feels softer edged.

Nature is a recurring theme throughout the book and feels like both escape, outlet and sanctuary. The poem ‘Port Na-Garley’ is an exemplary piece describing a heron. In ‘On An Evening Gently Falling’ (one of my favourites) we are treated to rainfall described eloquently, almost dreamlike. The pieces ‘Talking To Each Other’ and ‘Line In The Sand’ are further examples of this.

A standout of this book apart from the wonderful poems is the language that Gill uses. The pieces, ‘Palmer’s Moon’ and ‘Veduta’ are perfect examples of this. We are also provided with a variety of different styles from the sprawling ‘They Came Out The Mist’ to the couplet structured ‘Magilligan Point’. The italicisation in ‘Privilege’ makes the piece feel important, immediate (read the notes on this poem at the end of the book).

I could write so much about this book because it is outstanding. The fact it is a debut is even more impressive.

This collection will appeal to readers who appreciate compelling witness accounts, eloquent language, effective imagery and human connection and poems that make you react and reflect. This is a book that provides a testimony of events from a city caught up in violent, political turmoil and is an important book especially with current climates. A Wide River Divides Us is in my top 10 of reads this year. This is striking poetry.

I’m not the only one who thinks so either. Gill collaborated with a young film-maker to to make a poem-film of the title poem and it has just been shortlisted for 13th O’Bheal International Poem-Film Festival in Cork taking place in November, details here.

Favourite Poem:

I’ve already mentioned ‘On An Evening Gently Falling’. Here are another seven in no particular order (I could name a good few more); ‘Lough Shore Nocturne’ ‘Seaside, Seesaws and Other Oscillations’, ‘Diogenes Got Up And Walked’, ‘A Wide River Divides Us’, ‘Mixed Signals’, ‘Night Promenade’ and ‘The Road To Shroove’.

To read more about Gill, click here.

To buy A Wide River Divides Us, click here.

Oh, you want a playlist to read along with the collection? Here you go…

Foy Vance – Guiding Light
U2 – Bad
The Undertones – It’s Going To Happen
Enya – Evening Falls
Paul Desmond – Emily
Dave Brubeck Quartet – Strange Meadow Lark
Kenny Wheeler – Kind Folk
CMAT – Stay For Something
Christy Moore – North & South Of The River
The Corrs – Runaway
The Cranberries – Dreams

Before I Go…

Did you catch my callout for Christmas Gifting Ideas? Help me put together a post that will help poetics with their gift giving while boosting poets and presses at the same time. Details here.

One More Thing…

Black Bough are hosting an open mic next Sunday. Always a warm and welcoming environment to share poems. Details here.

And Another…

The Book Bag Open Mic Sessions: Session 1 is on Sunday 9th November. Share your polished gems or roughcoat coals. The line up so far is excellent. Details of tickets here. Be quick, there’s only a handful of reader spots left. Or you can come along and enjoy being a member of the audience.

And Another…

The Eat The Storms Podcast has returned for a new season, episode 1 dropped last Sunday and is a great listen. Available where you get your pods, details here.

And Finally…

Remember, Frazzled Lit are still accepting works throughout October, for free. Read the submission guidelines here and send your best work.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Wonderful
  • Poet: Harry Baker

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

Paul