poetry review

The Book Bag: Neon Manila by Troy Cabida

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

It’s scary how fast the weeks are going by.

On Friday I attended an open mic and discussion held at Jesmond Library hosted by Len Pennie. I find my reading is becoming much better with each performance. I read Gravity Is A Force You Took For Granted and The Importance of Buoyancy. I also bought Len’s new book and got it signed.

Over at  the allotment, things are starting to flourish with greenery and the bulbs are blooming. I fitted a brassica cage ready for planting out in a few week’s time. It was still standing the following day despite the wind. 

I spent some time relaxing with my vinyls throughout the week. I keep returning to Coltrane by Coltrane. An exceptional album. The jazz of that period is quite simply magnificient.

Christine and I watched a terrific one woman show on YouTube. It was by Eden Sher who played the character Sue Heck in The Middle. The show was really moving, happy and sad. 

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Neon Manila

  • Poet: Troy Cabida
  • Press: Nine Arches Press

The major strength in this book is the observation of different relationships. ‘My Daddy Baby’ examines dynamics and expectations in a relationship. In ‘Body Poem’, power dynamics are explored again but with a different perspective. One of my favourites is ‘Brighton Beach’ which combines excellent imagery and realistic, youthful personality. Another piece that caught my attention is ‘No One Wants What I Want’ which discusses an affair and the aftermath in a matter-of-fact way. ‘Symmetric’ was another of my favourite relationship pieces in the collection, exploring how an object can represent so much.

Excerpt from Body Poem

Several of the pieces use objects, often clothing, as metaphor which is something everybody does albeit mainly subconciously. The piece ‘Yellow Jacket I’ deals with desire and sensitivity all at once. The opening poem, ‘Order No: #UK65388’ is a smart piece on aspiration, it made me think of a friend I have who has an affinity for luxury watches and how they make him feel.

Discrimination is dealt with throughout in several ways. The poem ‘Race Riots Are Currently On The Way’ has humour but with an underlying unease. ‘You Walked Into School Wearing Your Mother’s Heels’ is a poem that shows resilience in the face of adversity. Resilience is a thread throughout the book and is done well and without cliche.

Excerpt from race riots are currently on the way.

There is a vulnerability and intimacy amongst the poems. ‘A Good Boy’, ‘Afterglow’ and ‘You (derogatory)’ are just a few examples of this. Throughout, it is heart on the sleeve poetry. I will say the piece ‘Thalassophobia’ shook me and I had to take a break from reading. Extremely powerful writing.

City life plays a key role in the book. The final piece ‘I Invoke The Spirit of Sarah Harris While Shopping For My Next Pair of Jeans’ is a piece that takes us on a tour of a London High Street and identity and the way the scene is set through vivid, relatable imagery you do become immersed in London life. Title poem ‘Neon Manila’ is a sprawling piece that covers multiple cities and countries looking at intimacy, vulnerability and culture with razor sharp insight.

Fans of form will savour this collection with a variety of different styles on display. ‘Black Turtleneck Sonnet’ (one of my favourites) is a multilayered piece that explores security, desire and control. The use lyrical language combined with couplets in ‘I Say I Am Myself’ gives the poem the right amount of space to breathe and move. There are excellent uses of space in ‘Slowed + Reverb’ and ‘Desiring’ plus many other pieces again giving the words room to make their mark.

This is an excellent collection of poetry that deals with many important themes in an inventive and clever way. Neon Manila will appeal to fans of punchy poetry with light and shade and a sense of vulnerability. If you read poetry for form, this collection will appeal. In my opinion Neon Manila is a tremendous book navigating modern life, keeping your head held high and finding out how to be yourself. Add it to your poetry library.

Favourite Poem:

I’ve already mentioned ‘Symmetric’ , ‘Black Turtleneck Sonnet’ and ‘Brighton Beach’. I could add so many but as of writing, I’ll stick to the handful that are in my mind right now. ‘Friends With Freudian Theory of Inversion’, ‘On Normativity’, ‘Both Wrists Silvered, Watch Me Deflect’, ‘Pearls In A Thumbprint Bowl’ and ‘Bone Cuff’.

You can read more about Troy Cabida here. 

Visit the Nine Arches Press Store and buy Neon Manila here. 

You’ve come this far, you may as well check out the playlist and what else is going on. This week’s mix is a quirky blend of old and new.

Sabrina Carpenter – Cappuccino 
ABBA- Angeleyes
Marilyn Monroe – Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend 
Pharell Williams – Marilyn Monroe
Dua Lipa – Levitating
Troye Sivan – Bloom 
Deep Blue Something – Breakfast at Tiffany’s 
Audrey Hepburn – Moon River
Thelonious Monk – ‘Round Midnight
The Weeknd – Blinding Lights
Bruno Mars – Treasure 
Hilary Duff – All About You

Before I Go…

Tickets for the online celebration and launch of Unwhispered Legacy are free here. Join me and a host of incredible poets on Friday May 1st. The lineup is released this week. Keep an eye on social media.

One More Thing…

Black Bough Poetry’s eagerly anticipated Shored Fragments anthology is coming out very soon. Edited by Matthew MC Smith and Kitty Donnelly, the pieces have been written in response to The Wasteland by TS Eliot. Keep an eye on Black Bough social media for details.

And Another…

Dust Poetry are open for submissions until 17 May. There is no theme and submission guidelines can be found on their website. They are an incredible magazine and I would encourage you to send your best work.

And Finally…

I’m delighted to be able to share the exciting news about my inclusion on Wave 3 of The Whiskey Tree. I’m in such great company and really value the opportunity. I’ve already started working on my pieces and can’t wait to share them.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Cherry Blossom At Nightbreak
  • Poet: Rishi Dastidar

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Joy Is My Middle Name by Sasha Debevec-McKenney

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

The weather took a turn for the better this week. It was great to feel the warm spring sunshine and be out in the garden and allotment. Thankfully, Storm Dave caused minimal harm to the allotment structures with only a cover being askew and one pane dislodged in the greenhouse. More vegetables have been planted, and the bulbs are in bloom. At home we planted some bat mix in a hope to attract some bats to the garden.

My regular barber fixed my hair which was great. In February, I went to a different barbershop and long story short my hair was shaved off using grade 2 clippers rather than my asked for trim.

I’m almost finished finalising the running order of the Unwhispered Legacy launch night. It’s a fantastic lineup of readers and you can get your audience tickets here.

Did you catch Eleanor Holmes second piece being added to her Poetic Voice feature? Read it here. Eleanor is launching #Moth on 19th April with a wonderful ensemble of readers. You can grab tickets here.

On top of that I’ve been reading…

Joy Is My Middle Name

  • Poet: Sasha Debevec-McKenney
  • Press: Fitzcarraldo Editions (UK) / W.W. Norton & Company (US)

Throughout the book, readers are treated to wit and humour grounded in real-world situations mixed with some excellent pop culture references. This includes the poems ‘Stand-Up Routine’ and the darker ‘I’m Starting To Like This Version Of Myself, Actually’ One of my favourite pieces ‘For The Record I Literally Wish I Talked Less But I Literally Cannot Help It’ had me chuckling away at the delivery.

Excerpt from Stand-Up Routine

Vivid language brings poems from page to the mind’s eye in a series of authentic pieces. ‘Dog-sitting Poem, Chicago, January 2023’ gives a multi-sensory glimpse of city life and after reading it, I immediately picked up Brody’s lead and took him for a walk. ‘Poem After Moving Away’ is a melancholic piece outlining the effect a place can have.

As this is book is brimming with realism, the themes mirror this. Politics and history are a recurring trend throughout out the book. ‘Kaepernick’ and the powerful,  sequenced ‘On Days I Believe In The Death Penalty’ and ‘On Days I Don’t Believe In The Death Penalty’  are some of the pieces that showcase this. In ‘Poem For The Racist Tour Guide At The Franklin Pierce Manse’, American history and the truth collide in a sharp incisive poem on the 14th President.

Candid poems on relationships appear throughout the book. ‘Watching National Treasure For The First Time’ is a no-nonsense piece about an ex that is compelling. I have friends who’ve done similar things. One of my favourites, ‘Jordan Says He Loves Me So Much He’ll Delete His Instagram For Me’ is a sharp, surreal piece.

Form and style enthusiasts are well catered for throughout the collection. ‘Sestina Where Every End Word is Lyndon Johnson’ is remarkable and clever piece, and  ‘I Always Make It Nice (Real Housewives of New York Taglines) Pantoum’ is superbly inventive. The piece ‘No Fap Found Poem’ is startling and unsettling. There are multiple other styles too, including prose, micro poetry, free verse – something for everyone.

Excerpt from Sestina Where Every End Word is Lyndon Johnson

This is a collection with a wide appeal. It will strike a chord with readers who want candour and humour in their poetry and frequent displays of resilience. Poetics who value realism in their poetry will love this book. If you like experiments in form you will appreciate this book. It is fantastic.

Favourite Poem:

I’ve already mentioned ‘Jordan Says He Loves Me So Much He’ll Delete His Instagram For Me’ and ‘For The Record I Literally Wish I Talked Less But I Literally Cannot Help and I could name another dozen as I sit here writing but I’ll stick to a handful. ‘Alonederland’, ‘If You Just Wanna Say Fuck It’, ‘It’s So Idyllic Here’, ‘Sample Of Myself’ and ‘Joy Is My Middle Name’.

To read more about Sasha click here.

To buy Joy Is My Middle Name, click here.

Looking for this week’s playlist? Look no further! This week is a quirky blend:

Nina Simone – Feeling Good
The Righteous Brothers – You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
Ludacris – Act A Fool
John Coltrane – Giant Steps
Guns N’ Roses – Civil War
Stevie Nicks – Edge of Seventeen
Johnny Cash – Hurt
Jay-Z – Dead Presidents
Mel B – Word Up
Édith Piaf – Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
P!nk – So What
Salt-n-Pepa – Push It
U2 – I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

Before I Go…

My poem ‘This Space Is for You’ was accepted by Full House Literary and is now on their website under the Featured Creators section and I am so happy about it.. You can listen or read here. I’m among some incredible company.


One More Thing…

The Broken Spine has an open submission window for one of their slimline anthologies. The theme is on Poetry At The Edge of Knowing and more details can be found here.


And Another…

Rachel Turney is launching her latest book Retired Wannabe Club Kid (published by Parlyaree Press) on Zoom on Friday 17th April at 6pm MST / 8pm EST. Details here.


And Finally…

You can still download a copy of Unwhispered Legacy and if you wish to, you can donate to Médecins Sans Frontières. Click here for full details.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Neon Manila
  • Poet: Troy Cabida

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Strike by Sarah Wimbush

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

What an eventful week!

On Wednesday, Eleanor Holmes became the newest featured poet in The Book Bag: Poetic Voices series. Read part one here. It is jam-packed with greatness.

Before that, on Tuesday, Unwhispered Legacy was launched into the world. Raising money for Médecins Sans Frontières, the anthology can be downloaded from its dedicated webpage here. If you feel you are able to donate, all proceeds go to MSF and would be greatly appreciated. If you’re a UK taxpayer, you can also add gift aid which means they will receive further funds. I’m super proud of this anthology.

Also, this week I visited my parents and took another trip to Barter Books — one of the best second-hand bookshops you’re likely to ever see.

I have also been able to get over to the allotment and plant our potatoes. It was good to see some of our flowers beginning to bloom and the fruit trees flowering. I’m looking forward to harvesting some produce.

On top of that I’ve been reading;

Strike

  • Poet: Sarah Wimbush
  • Press: Stairwell Books

A few weeks ago, I visited Woodhorn Museum, a mining museum built on the site of a former working colliery in Northumberland. Aside from the tremendous immersive and interactive exhibit, they also house a poignant and moving collection of photography titled Coal Town by the social documentarian Mik Critchlow. I must also thank Jenny from the museum for her insight.

It was that visit that prompted me to seek out a Strike, a book I’d seen in poetry press (shortlisted for the Forward prize in 2024) but hadn’t read. Lucky for me I found a copy of Strike online.

This book is a mixture of poetry based on the mining strikes that took place across the UK in the 1984 with photography from the time. The spectre of the pit closures still haunts communities across the UK. 

Sarah Wimbush does not hold back against the power players in either side of the strike. The pieces ‘Thatcher’, ‘Kinnock’ and ‘Scargill’ are portraits that sum up their sensibilities, aptitude and attitudes without caricaturing. ‘This Is The BBC’ highlights the poor reporting (putting it mildly) from the BBC and their commitment to representing the government narrative. 

The landscape of 80’s Britain is brought to life through vivid language that adds colour to the pieces. Poems such as ‘Stop’, (one of my favourites), and ‘Picketing at Penrhiwceiber, are both terrific examples of this. 

‘Strikebreaker’, ‘Berry Hill’ and ‘BASTARD NACOD SCABS’ give the readers glimpses into the attitudes to those who didn’t strike or crossed the picket line. ‘Silver Birch’ cleverly portrays Chris Butcher, a man backed by the Mail and businesses to try and break strikes.

Excerpt from Berry Hill

Pieces including ‘Coal Boy’ and ‘The Police, The Miners’ Wives, Their Children’ capture the reality of how families were affected by the strike and the aftermath. ‘Miners Leaning Forwards’ highlights the financial struggle that miners experienced when relying on hardship payments from the NUM. 

The collection also shows the resilience of the women behind the men and how they took to the streets and organised too. One of my favourites in the collection, ‘Women Against Pit Closures’ is a testament to the women who rallied around and showed they were in the fight to. 

There is an angry undercurrent throughout the book., however, we are regularly treated to humour throughout the book. The piece ‘Flat Cap’ is a satirical look into the future and how the common clothing item may be considered. The piece ‘Our Lady Of The Pit Canteen’ gives a smile as the achievements are minimised against the return of plates. The leaning into the Yorkshire dialect adds the authenticity which emphasises the humour further. 

Form and style is played with throughout the book. It is an excellent display of ekphrastic poetry. The list poem ‘The Enemy’ is a cracking piece that brims with anger. In ‘Mounted Policeman Canters Towards Lesley Boulton’ the use of couplets gives the sense of urgency and danger. 

This is a book that will appeal to those who like poetry of testimony, readers who may have been impacted by industrial action and those with an interest in major social and political events.  It will appeal to poetics who appreciate various forms and styles. This book got under my skin – I’m sure it would resonate with many people my age who live close to a former pit, shipyard or steelworks. This is an important and powerful book that I highly recommend. 

Favourite Poem:
I’ve already mentioned ‘Stop’ and ‘Women Against Pit Closures’ and I could easily choose a lot more but the ones in mind today are ‘Standards’, ‘Pits and Perverts’, ‘People Who Support the Miners’ and ‘Kick-off’. 

You can read more about Sarah and buy her book from Stairwell Books here.

This week’s playlist has a more serious edge to it in keeping with the themes of the book;

Grimethorpe Colliery Band – Gresford (The Miner’s Hymn)
Frank Wilson – Do I Love You 
Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In The Dark
The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead
Manic Street Preachers – A Design for Life
Sam Fender & Easington Colliery Band – Remember My Name
Erasure – A Little Respect
Test Dept – Shockwork
Bronski Beat – Smalltown Boy
The Clash – This is England 
Linton Kwesi Johnson – Fite Dem Back 
Desford Colliery Band – Share My Yoke

Before I Go…
April’s Poetic Voice, Eleanor, is holding an online launch on Sunday 19th April. Hear Eleanor and a wonderful ensemble of poets celebrating #MOTH . Full details here. 

One More Thing…
Rachel Turney is launching her latest book Retired Wannabe Club Kid (published by Parlyaree Press) on Zoom on Friday 17th April at 6pm MST / 8pm EST. Details here.

And Another…
On Friday 1st May, I’ll be hosting the zoom launch for Unwhispered Legacy. Starting at 7pm UK time, some of the brightest voices in contemporary poetry will be reading their pieces live. Tickets are free and you can register here. 

And Finally…
The Winged Moon is opening for submissions this coming week for both poetry and art to feature in their Substack issues planned for later in the year. Follow them on social media if you’re not already. 

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Joy Is My Middle Name
  • Poet: Sasha Debevec-McKenney

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

Paul

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