poetry review

The Book Bag: Husband Material Vol II: Twenty-Seven Addresses by D. L. Husband

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

I’ve had an incredibly busy week. Work is constant now but that’s what I like. I feel satisfied every day when I’m finished because I know I’ve worked hard and contributed to the team and company.

I attended an excellent open mic last Sunday evening, you can read about it here, on Friday I read at the launch of Chris Campbell’s new book ‘Why I Wear My Past To Work’ which I feel truly grateful to have been invited to take part. Somehow, I wrote a couple of good pieces too (in my opinion anyway).

At the allotment, preparing for winter in full flow. We had a ton of compost delivered on Saturday. Getting it from the drop off bay, into wheelbarrows then to our plot was exhausting.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Husband Material Vol II: Twenty-Seven Addresses

  • Poet: D. L. Husband
  • Press: Hidden Hand Press

Husband Material Vol II: Twenty-Seven Addresses is my first time reading D.L. ‘Dan’ Husband in a collection. He featured on the same episode of BBC Upload with me hosted by the fantastic Emma Millen. I’ve watched his Instagram of performances of spoken word at fringe events and elsewhere. I also checked out some of his published work online and I’m a fan. It’s always great to share work from Northeast poets. Let’s jump into the collection.

There is power in Dan’s poems, sometimes understated and restrained sometimes unflinching. The pieces ‘Demolition Man’ and ‘Reaper Man’ are two examples of how to add impact but in various ways. I must also mention the title poem from the collection ‘Twenty-Seven Addresses’ which is a hybrid of prose and sequence that feels like a worthwhile mandate. I relate to this piece in so many ways and is one of my favourite pieces.

Every piece in this collection teems with emotion. It deals with key themes that working-class men deal with daily: , identity, challenging stereotypes and perceptions, personal struggles with addiction and standing out from the crowd you belong to. ‘Buffet’ is a terrific example of this and uses visual spacing that mimics the movement he describes. ‘Give A What?’ is a direct address to the reader and pulls no punches. This is meaningful poetry.

I like pop culture references in poetry when they make sense which is something Dan uses, keeping the work relatable. In ‘Ghostbusters’ we are treated to a cameo from Gozer, Venkman and Spengler. In ‘3D Printed Dinosaur Bones’, Mothra and Godzilla make an appearance. One thing he doesn’t do is use a reference for the sake of it or overuse.

Imagery weaves its way through the collection. This is demonstrated in ‘The Moon Watches On’ where we are hurtled through space and time to understand what the moon has observed since it came into being.

Dan’s skill in spoken word composition is evident in the rhyming patterns and structured shifts in the pieces. Read them aloud. Another key detail is the intricate and clever wordplay he uses. The piece ‘Blameless Blaggard’ is a great demonstration of this.

This is a collection for poetry fans who want to be confronted with truth, sometimes brutal. Fans of spoken word, clever wordplay and rhyme will enjoy this book. Readers who want to explore recovery through words, this will appeal to you. A deep, dark intimate book. I’ll be grabbing a copy of volume I very soon.

Keep up with Dan here.

To buy Husband Material Vol II: Twenty-Seven Addresses, click here.

Favourite Poem:

This week I’ll go for five. I’ve already mentioned ‘Twenty-Seven Addresses’ but the following four have also stuck in my head. ‘Border War’, ‘The Old Beast’, ‘Fairy Trials’ and ‘Ananke’.


Oh, and here’s this week’s playlist, you didn’t think I’d forget:

Little Roy – Lithium
Massive Attack – Teardrop
Oasis – Cigarettes and Alcohol
Maximo Park – Risk to Exist
Eels – Novocaine For The Soul
Tom Petty – Free Fallin’
Underworld – Born Slippy
Fatboy Slim – Weapon Of Choice
Sam Fender – Play God
Robbie Williams – Better Man

Before I Go…

Did you catch the details of The Book Bag X Write Here, Right Now submission window and guidelines? A terrific chance to get published and potentially be nominated for awards including BOTN, Pushcart & Forward. Details here.

One More Thing…

Alan Parry will be on hosting duties for another Broken Spine Arts ‘Write The Night’ workshop on 28 September 2025. I have attended this in the past and found it extremely useful and highly recommend it. Details here.

And Another…

If you’ve been following The Book Bag for a while, you will know that I am a massive fan of Helen Laycock. She is this month’s poet on Black Bough’s Silver Branch feature. Read it here.

And Finally…

Have you had chance to catch up with this month’s Poetic Voice? Pascale Petit has shared a piece from Beast. Keep an eye on social media for a further addition to the feature…

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: This Wilderness & Other Concerns
  • Poet: Martin Kennedy Yates

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Welcome To The Museum of A Life by Sue Finch

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

This week has been a busy one especially at work with the release of exam results. At home I’ve submitted a couple of pieces (got an acceptance which set me up for a great day on Thursday), worked on my own writing, enjoyed the sunshine and took a trip to an excellent charity bookshop. In the kitchen I made a chocolate and raspberry mousse which was delightfully light. Also, I brunched at Etto Gosforth (Sourdough French Toast with Maple and Bacon for me with a Latte) and welcomed back the Premier League Season and Fantasy Football.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Welcome To The Museum Of A Life

  • Poet: Sue Finch
  • Press: Black Eyes Publishing UK

First off, I’ll say I’m a fan of Sue Finch and we interact regularly on weekly prompts notably on TopTweetTuesday. Her shadow photos with dandelions as eyes are always good to see and uplifting.

Welcome To The Museum Of A Life is in sections as a gallery would be. Readers enter through the Foyer, exiting the collection via the Gift Shop as is proper in many museums. So without further ado, lets not get tangled in the entry gates and get on our way…

One of Sue’s main strengths in poetry is her ability to weave emotion and authenticity throughout her work. Poems including ‘Tuesday Night’ and ‘Silence’ display this incredibly well. I loved the poem ‘Peacock’ for its transition of emotion from amused observer to caring participant by the end. ‘When I am Gone’, one of the collection’s final pieces made me smile and tear up. ‘That Coin’ made me smile again and kept me smiling because of how purely and real falling in love is described.

Another skill that is showcased throughout is imagery. ‘My Hybrid Heart’, ‘When I Saw Jesus In A Tomato’ and ‘An Apple For My Mum’  are all prime examples of how to establish a scene that can feel so familiar and recognisable that you think this poem gets me and I get this poem.

Sue is deft at surrealist poetry too. The piece ‘I Hate You’ opens with an interaction between narrator and cow, a heron and an unknown bird. One of my favourite pieces ‘A Pelican Is Dancing On The Patio’ explores perception incredibly. ‘I’ve Nothing To Offer The White Horse In The Dream’ feels like a reckoning and I flinched on reading (I do have a slight fear of horses).

I’ve already discussed the book being divided into galleries. Another point to mention is that the galleries are varied in their themes and as in any good museum, a list of curated exhibits are introduced before you step in. Keep an eye out for the ‘Museum Of A Life: The Unexhibited’ which takes us behind the no entry signs to see what could be rotated in.

This curated collection will appeal to readers who enjoy their poetry underpinned by vivid imagery and honest emotion. Fans of surrealism and dreamscapes will enjoy this book. If you like visiting museums, you’ll love this book. I thoroughly enjoyed perusing the exhibits and my gift shop budget is too small to buy all the trinkets I’d like. Definitely one of the best museums I’ve visited.

To read more about Sue, click here or here which is Sue’s Silver Branch feature on Black Bough Poetry where you can read some of her work.

To buy Welcome To The  Museum Of A Life, click here.

Favourite Poem:

There are a few to choose from this week so I’ll go for seven! In no particular order, as I am writing I’ll go for; ‘A Pelican Is Dancing On The Patio’, ‘When I Am Gone’, ‘That Coin’, ‘Invitation’, ‘I Don’t Know’, ‘Digging That Hole’ and ‘Rescuing The Giraffe.

And finally, here’s an eclectic playlist nobody asked for, but everyone secretly wanted:

Museum of Light – Ralph Towner, Wolfgang Muthspiel & Slava Grigoryan
Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics
Museum – Donovan
National Gallery – Paul Weller
Andy Warhol – David Bowie
Mona Lisa’s & Mad Hatters – Elton John
Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
The Gallery – Joni Mitchell
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds – The Beatles
Pictures of Lily – The Who

Before I Go…

A few weeks in The Book Bag I mentioned that I had been asked to read some work at a launch. Well on 12th September that Launch is happening online for Chris Camplbell’s new book from Parlyaree Press ‘Why I Wear My Past To Work’. For more information and booking details, click here.

One More Thing…

Keep an eye out for another list of Rishi Dastidar’s hobbies being added to his feature in The Book Bag: Poetic Voices. Catch up here.

And Another…

Broke Spine continue to do good things on Bluesky. A new project they are launching on Wednesdays is for works in progress. Check their Bluesky for more details and to get involved.

And Another…

Wee Sparrow Poetry Press are hosting a free online haiku workshop with the President of The British Haiku Society Ilyana Stoyanova on September 7th between 5 & 7pm UK Time via zoom. Email theweesparrowpoetrypress@gmail.com to book.

And Finally…

Just a reminder that your weekly dive into The Book Bag will return on 7th September. September’s Poetic voice will still arrive on the 1st.

The First Read Upon Returning From My Break Is…

  • Title: Maybe I’ll Call Gillian Anderson
  • Poet: Rhian Elizabeth

Take it easy and stay poetic.

Paul

The Book Bag: Vanishing Point by Colin Bancroft

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Vanishing Point

  • Poet: Colin Bancroft
  • Press: Broken Sleep Books

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To buy Colin’s book, click here.

Favourite Poem:

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

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

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

Before I Go…

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

One More Thing…

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

And Finally…

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

Next Week’s Read

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

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

Paul

The Book Bag: The Oasis by Charles Lang

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

The Oasis

  • Poet: Charles Lang
  • Press: Skein Press

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Favourite Poem:

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

To learn more about Charles Lang, click here.

To buy The Oasis, click here.

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

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

One More Thing…

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

And Another…

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

And Another…

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

And Finally…

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

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Vanishing Point
  • Poet: Colin Bancroft

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Black Skies Die Starless by Jamie Woods

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

I’ve had a slower week this week. Shared a video of me reading one of my poems on social media, visited the Northern Poetry Library on Monday, sent some submissions off and spent some time on my my own writing. On Saturday evening I was able to see some incredible poetry at Louis Longson’s last Saturday of the month poetry readings. Also I went out for lunch with my team from work to a great Asian place.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Black Skies Die Starless

  • Poet: Jamie Woods
  • Press: Punk Dust Poetry


Black Skies Die Starless is a pamphlet that I became aware of on a recent Black Bough open mic when Jamie read a couple of pieces. This week there’s no playlist from me, instead, the collection has suggested listening. Some class tracks in there too. Lets jump in…

One of Jamie Woods’s best strengths is the weaving of pop-culture references throughout his work that is more than just surface-level soundbite. Pieces including ‘The 90S’ and ‘are the perfect examples of this. In fact, the poem ‘The Perpetual Illusion of Progress’ stands out for its sharp, smart observations of 90s culture. Thankfully things do seem to have moved on. The piece ‘I’ve Found God In Seattle’ is a clever piece on irony and perception.

Another strength is emotional honesty and depth. The grief poem ‘Sleep’ is heart-wrenching with a sucker punch of a closing line. The poem ‘Wednesday Afternoons Bromley High Street’ is intimate as we peer into a therapy room. Blame culture is displayed perfectly here through interaction and steps to self-actualisation also shown. The pivots are placed perfectly. ‘The Opposite of Spring’ is a terrifically crafted poem rich with contrast.

Vivid imagery runs throughout the collection. From the underbelly of the parks doing substances in the piece ‘Swinging’ to racing the streets in ‘Beat-Up Micra’ and the longing to escape in ‘Swansea Sound’ these poems were resonant, and I could picture these in Northumberland mining towns I grew up in.

Throughout the book, readers are treated to a variety of different forms and styles. The prose poem ‘Through Neon Half-Lights’ was a very clever choice as it gives a rounded feel to the piece. Then in ‘You And No-One Else’ the use of separators is a great representation of the message being conveyed and interacts with the piece.

Another thing to mention is the interspersal of graphics throughout the book. The paparazzi piece was a stop and reflect moment but for a completely different reason because while that event was happening, another horrific event was happening closer to home.

Favourite Poem:

More than a few to choose from so let’s settle on five just from what I’ve been thinking of today: Through Neon Half-Lights, Manic Pixie Dream Boy, (Atrophia), On Mount Horeb, and Heaven 17.

Black Skies Die Starless will appeal to readers who want to revisit the nostalgia of the 90s through a different gaze, fans of poetic authenticity and admirers of sharp observational poetry. A masterful collection and so glad I encountered Jamie reading this at the recent Black Bough open mic.

Learn more about Jamie Woods and access the playlist that accompanies the book, here.

Buy Black Skies Die Starless here (I got a bookmark and a couple of pin badges in my delivery, excellent poetry merch). All proceeds go to Leukaemia Care UK. Jamie is their poet-in-residence.

One More Thing…

An important new platform has launched on Substack. We Are The Chorus: Poetry of Witness is a new collaborative project that aims to share poems of protest and witness, and to encourage discussion, inquiry, and action around these themes. There will be an initial gallery of 12 with 1-2 poems shared weekly followed by a pause to allow reflection and to encourage further conversation.

And Another…

There is still time to enter the Katrina Collins Poetry Prize which closes on 1st August 2025 for Best Single Poem. See full details of the prize dedicated to Katrina Collins, mum of the exceptionally kind and ultra talented Briony Collins who is EIC of Atomic Bohemian, here.

And Finally…

Less than a week to go until the Poetic Voice for August is released on The Book Bag. Alarms should be set for noon on Friday 1st August.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: The Oasis
  • Poet: Charles Lang

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Cupid, Grown by Adam Panichi

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

This week has been very busy, a bit tiring but exhilarating. A late-night reading on Tuesday at the North Bay Poetics showcase of Alan Parrys work on the theme of masculinity, it was an honour to be asked. On Wednesday I attended an excellent event featuring Len Pennie reading from Poyums and forthcoming Poyums Annaw with an open mic section in Jesmond. I read three poems and felt I done okay. On Thursday it was another instalment of Write Here, Right Now which was very insightful and collaborative. I’ve also had chance to work on some of my own writing and editing.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Cupid, Grown

  • Poet: Adam Panichi
  • Press: Broken Sleep Books


I picked up a copy of Cupid, Grown at an event held at my work where local independent sellers were, well, selling. I was lucky to buy the last poetry book from the indie bookseller who said they’d sold more pamphlets and collections than expected which is always a good thing. So without further ado, let’s dive in, also another playlist at the end of this post.

Evocative imagery is a major highlight of this collection displayed throughout. Poems including ‘Bathhouse’ and ‘Concrete Quarterly’ are both vivid, physical and philosophical. ‘Following A Mild Electric Shock I Think Of England’ is a very clever piece also.

Throughout the collection, there are many visceral pieces. The poem ‘Cotton-Collared Mafiosi’ is stark, raw and unflinching. It made me reflect and revisit things I endured and reconcile myself. ‘Snow’ is an exquisite piece of writing on self and masculinity. ‘The Boys Are Killing Their Sims On The Family PC’ (after Andrew McMillan) is a tour de force in referencing and subverting pop-culture through poetry.

Talking of references, the poem ‘Lilac Bushes’ gets a special mention here. Once I read it, and read it again, I looked up the subject then reread it again. A really sharply crafted piece.

There are some truly delicate moments in this book. Pieces including ‘Carciofi’ and ‘Cloth Mother’ give a glimpse into maternal security and admiration. They are resonant, and, in ‘Carciofi’ the use of Italian and the rich depiction of the kitchen and produce is exceptional. I must also mention the intimacy of ‘Tender’, a beautiful poem.

For fans of styles and forms, there are a multitude used in the book. In the poem ‘Slow Erasure of the Author’ there is the blacking out of words mid-line followed by a tremendous and large scale use of white space. The found piece ‘The Interior Of A Heart’ uses text from The Scarlet Letter by Nigel Hawthorne and is printed in original form which adds to the style of the piece and quality of the book itself. The piece ‘White Soft Paraffin’ uses a / in line breaks elevating the emphasis of the language.

Favourite Poem:

A few to choose from this week so in no order; ‘Flight Feathers’, ‘Lilac Bushes’, ‘Carciofi’, and ‘Cupid, Grown’.

This book will appeal to readers who like raw, honest and unflinching poetry that explores identity and love and relationships. If you like sharp observations and excellent use of language, this will be for you also. A gem of a book.

To find out more about Adam Panichi  and to buy Cupid, Grown click here.

As promised, here’s a small playlist to go with this weeks pamphlet;

Amy Winehouse – Cupid
David Guetta & Kelly Rowland – When Love Takes Over
Pet Shop Boys – Love Comes Quickly
Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In The Dark
Mario Lanza & Constantine Callinicos – Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
Fatboy Slim – Weapon Of Choice
Years & Years – Shine
Verna Felton – Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo
Ludovica Einaudi  – Eros

One More Thing…

Not long to go until August’s Poetic Voice is announced and I am tremendously happy to be featuring this poet. The feature will drop at Noon on August 1st. Unfortunately issues outside of my control meant July’s feature did not land.

And Another…

On 5th August 2025, come along to the launch of Beautiful Little Fools on Zoom with Open Mic. Will I be drinking cocktails? Maybe. Will I be wearing a velvet jacket? Maybe. Will there be glitzy poetry to hear? Definitely. Details here.

And Finally…

I’ll be taking a plunge this week and posting a reading on Instagram. Find me using @paulwritespoems. Give me a watch, even if its to laugh at my amateurishness!

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Dark Skies Die Starless
  • Poet: Jamie Miller

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

Paul

The Book Bag – Modern Poetry by Diane Seuss

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Modern Poetry

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


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

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


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

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

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

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


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


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


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

To buy Modern Poetry click here.

To read more on Dianne Seuss, click here.

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

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

One More Thing…

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

And Another…

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

And Another…

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

And Finally…

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

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Cupid Grown
  • Poet: Adam Panichi

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Midden Witch by Fiona Benson

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Midden Witch

  • Poet: Fiona Benson
  • Press: Cape Poetry

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

Favourite Poem:

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

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

To read Fiona Benson’s bio, click here.

Buy Midden Witch here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Modern Poetry
  • Poet: Dianne Seuss

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

Paul

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

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Down River With Li Po

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


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

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


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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

To buy Down River with Li Po click here.

As promised, a playlist;

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

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

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

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

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

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Midden Witch
  • Poet: Fiona Benson

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Lode by Gillian Allnutt

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

This week has been a week. For starters, I’ve hurt my back and it’s limiting what I can do. But this week I shared an article on recently appearing on the BBC, sent out a couple of submissions, done some prep for next month’s Write Here, Right Now, we had some close friends visit us from Lincoln. We also harvested and ate some of the turnips from the garden.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Lode

  • Poet: Gillian Allnutt
  • Press: Bloodaxe Books


I was tipped off to Lode by Bloodaxe Books (as its NE based) and had pencilled in to read in July. However, I got myself a copy early, moved some dates around due to postage and decided to rad it this week and share my thoughts with you all. Also there’s a playlist below (just my recommendations).  

Lode is divided into three sections. Postwar, Covid and Earth-hoard. We start in 2016 then time travel across generations throughout the book going back to late 40’s Britain all the way to modern day.

There are deeply personal pieces in this book. The poems dedicated and in memoriam of Gillian Allnutt’s father are full of emotional resonance. ‘Flame-thrower’ is an exceptionally crafted piece that gave me pause.

I’m familiar with most of the northern villages and towns mentioned throughout Lode. Therefore, when seeing names of places, I know in some of the poems, I could feel myself there enjoying sight, smell and sound memory concentrated even more so by Gillian Allnutt’s writing. ‘Dunstanburgh’, a conversation poem in the collection is home to a ruined castle and is a favourite walk of ours from Craster. In ‘My Father, Mislaid’, a moving piece, Gillian takes us to Chillingham, a place I’m very fond of.


There are threads of spirituality peppered throughout the collection. The poem ‘The Way She Remembered It’ is preceded by a quote from Song of Songs. In ‘Trist’ God is referred to again. In ‘At 71’ the poet reflects on Covid, mortality and loneliness. It’s a balanced poem of humour and sadness.

Nature plays a key role in the book both in terms of the landscape and fauna. ‘Dark Night of The Soul’ is an incredible piece that is both introspective and rich with natural imagery. As is the piece ‘Of The Trees In The Wood By The Old Pit Line’. I enjoyed ‘Golden Saxifrage’ as it combines wild nature, domestic lawnmowing and an online literature festival (saxifrage is one of my favourite plants especially the arctic variety for its resilience).

Wit is a constant through the collection. The poem ‘Azuma Meditation’ is a clever piece. Also ‘Audience’ will draw a smile where Gillian Allnutt is meeting Queen Elizabeth II when collecting her Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 2016.

Form-wise, we are treated to various forms and devices. There are micropoems including ‘Footnote’, I’ve mentioned ‘Dunstanburgh’ which is a poem in conversation script form. Some pieces including ‘Audience’ have an internal rhyme structure. There are couplet arranged pieces including ‘Pink Jenkins’ and ‘On Having To Leave York University Without The Clock’. I must also mention the notes section of the book. This gives extra emphasis to the pieces and context.


Favourite Poem:
There’s a few that I must name. Crabapple Moon, The Walk (allowed) and The Song of Arachnid. I could add a few others including Beechwood, Do The Birds Worry? and Roughage.

To read more about Gillian Allnutt click here.

To buy a copy of Lode direct from Bloodaxe Books, click here.

This Week’s Playlist:

Kathryn Tickell – Back to the Rede
Mark Knopfler – Kingdom of Gold
Exile – In Between Tides
Lindisfarne – Kings Cross Blues
Sting and The Police – Brand New Day
Bearpark & Esh Colliery Band – Songs of the Tyne
The Unthanks – Magpie
Sam Fender featuring Easington Colliery Band – Remember my Name
The Jam – London Calling

This is a book with broad appeal. It has heartfelt, emotive poetry, wit, excellent imagery and various forms. The book navigates shifts in time deftly and like a lode, this book is a journey. Now, I need to get my hands on more of Gillian Allnutt’s work to read.

One More Thing…

You can read my piece on appearing on the BBC here. If you’re a poet or writer looking to get your work out there, it may be worth a read.

And Another…

Black Bough Poetry has another Crafting Your Year In Poetry workshop coming up on 13th July, a great way to help get serious about your writing. Details here.

And Another…

It’s not long until the Frazzled Lit Short Story Competition Closes. Details here.

And Another…

Broken Spine Arts has a range of events coming up including open mics and workshops. Details can be found here.

And Finally…

The Beautiful Little Fools Anthology, published by Broken Spine Arts will be out Early July. This is a book in response to the Jazz Age. It’s hotter than a Gatsby party. More details soon.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Down River with Li Po
  • Poet: Karen Pierce Gonzalez

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

Paul