Poetry

The Book Bag: Soi-même by Victoria Spires

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

This week has been hot and sunny in Newcastle, and I’ve been able to absorb some Vitamin D in the garden (I also tripped over and landed in worm tea – not my finest hour). My wife and I also took the dog to the coast for a walk and ice-cream for breakfast!

On Monday evening, I did have to call the fire brigade during our dog walk. Someone thought it would be funny to set fire to trees in the nearby community orchard where lots of birds are currently nesting. The fire service was on the scene in quick time.

Poetry wise, I was lucky to do a reading and interview, details to be shared soon. Also, I’ve sent out some submissions, had an idea for participants of Write Here, Right Now and did something very exciting. Also, on Friday, the final episode of this season’s Thousand Shades of Green aired which featured work on the theme of water from myself and fellow contributing poets from the season. You can listen here . It was such a privilege to be part of and look forward to returning to feature again in the future.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

  • Poet: Victoria Spires
  • Press: Salò Press

I first read Victoria Spires’ poetry on social media, I want to say in response to a prompt on Top Tweet Tuesday. Since then, I have read her work in multiple anthologies and lit mags where her poetry is always polished and beautifully crafted. She also introduced me to the ‘Sevenling’ form which I have practised a bit. Victoria is also a contributing editor to The Winged Moon, an excellent poetry magazine which has regular competitions and a weekly newsletter.

When Victoria announced on BlueSky that her debut pamphlet was incoming, I jumped straight on the pre-order page (a bargain from Salò Press).

Touch recurs through the book in various ways; ‘On Surrender’ begins tentatively and delicate between two people while the poem ‘Trouble’ looks at the want of haptic feedback from both the writer and inanimate objects like door handles. Poems in the collection are equated to desire (as stated on the back cover) and you definitely feel this upon reading. At points there is real intimacy.

There is an array of forms used in the pamphlet, sometimes from page to page. A prime example is the change of style from ‘A Hawk from A Handsaw’ to ‘Soi-disant’. Each form used gives extra focus to the poems and adds a little mystery before you begin reading.

The way in which emotion is portrayed within the pamphlet aligns with the nature of the poem. In ‘Soi-lui’ there is an edge, confrontational maybe. However, in ‘Orchard’, the emotion is mostly guided through the poem with touch and imagery.

The vocabulary in the collection is also worth mentioning for the sheer scale and precision of use. ‘Moon Almanack’ and ‘Mare Crisium’ taught me a handful of words unfamiliar to me which fit perfectly in place in the pamphlet.

Another benefit of incredible language use is the imagery within pieces such as ‘Brain As Radula’ and ‘Soi-lui’. This is also the case in ‘Sanguis’ which partners image, metaphor and form across the page.

This is a book that will appeal to many. At times it feels very intimate and is filled with poems exquisitely crafted that linger in the mind long afterwards making you return time and again. Highly recommended.

Favourite Poem:

White Gold.

If you want to keep up to date with Victoria, she has recently launched a Substack that can be found here.

To buy your copy of Soi-même (a bargain), click here.

One More Thing…

It was International Dylan Thomas Day on Thursday. Here is one of my favourites. Drop a comment with yours…

And Another…

Broken Spine Arts have an open mic on Thursday 29th May 2025. Details here of this always supportive event.

They have also released spotlights on the contributors to The Whiskey Tree Wave 2. Give them a read, all interesting insights to poetic thinking and inspiration. More info here.

And Another…

Black Bough Poetry are hosting a launch for Regine Ebner’s ‘Mountains That See In The Dark’ on Saturday 7 June 2025 at 630pm UK Time. Details here.

And Finally…

It was great to see recently featured Poyums by Len Pennie win the Discover Award at the 2025 British Book Awards this week. A triumph for poetry and Scots language.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
  • Poet: Taz Rahman

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Scattered Snows, To The North by Carl Phillips

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

This week I’ve enjoyed some tremendous walks in the countryside, wrote a couple of pieces, one for a submission and one definitely for the pamphlet, entered into phase 2 of a secret project and a couple of opportunities came my way. More details on those in the coming weeks.

I also observed the anniversary of VE Day and wrote a poem for it based on personal stories of those who experienced it (you can read that here).

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Scattered Snows, To The North

  • Poet: Carl Phillips
  • Press: Carcanet Poetry

Scattered Snows, To The North is Pulitzer Prize winner Carl Phillips 17th collection (this is my first time reading a collection of his) and reads like a memoir where past choices and experiences and are examined with a focus on how memories often create a version of believed facts. A great example of this is in ‘Stop Shaking’.

The use of water recurs through the book. ‘Troubadours’, ‘Sunlight in Fog’ and  ‘Regime’ play with water in different ways but all to maximum effect. Phillips is deft at creating vivid, visceral images throughout the book. Poems such as ‘When We Get There’, ‘Fall Colors’ and ‘Record of Where a Wind Was’.


Relationships are intricately and intimately observed in a variety of different ways. These include ‘Mechanics’, ‘Why So This Quiet’ ‘Western Edge’ and ‘Artillery’. A standout poem in this regard had to be ‘Surfers’ which deals with longing, infatuation and how a person acts.

When I was reading this, I was intrigued by the way that Phillips ends lines in unusual places, giving extra emphasis to the message he is delivering. The poem ‘Fist and Palm’ is exceptional in giving pause but making you want to get to the next line soon rather than later, heightening anticipation.

There are some fun quirks in the book such as the fact that the title poems from each section are in other parts of the book. In terms of form, there are various styles used in the book including pieces that are more prose such as ‘Searchlights’ compared to a poem like ‘Like So’ that plays with space on the page.


Use of language in Scattered Snows to The North is never laboured or overcooked which is something that poets can wrestle with when crafting work. Poems have a lyrical quality to them , demonstrated throughout. I’ve picked out the pieces ‘Back Soon; Driving-‘, ‘Career‘ and ‘If Grief Is Mostly Private And Always Various’ as examples but I could list so many more.

I could go on about how much I appreciate this book. I’ve read Scattered Snows To The North thrice in the week. I’m going to be re-reading more, hopefully absorbing some methods to improve my line breaks especially.

This is an introspective collection that will appeal to readers who like exceptional use of language and crafted poems that explore relationships and the role memory plays in our lives.


Favourite Poem:

I’m picking three this week. ‘This Is The Light’, ‘Somewhere It’s Still Summer’ and ‘Scattered Snows, To The North’.

To learn more about Carl Phillips, his website is here.

To buy Scattered Snows, To The North directly from Carcanet click here.

One More Thing…

I’m sharing more things on Instagram and Threads these days. I’d love for you to join me over there. As on every other site, my handle is @paulwritespoems. (I cringed slightly when I wrote handle!)

And Another…

If you’re a fan of the Emerald Isle and haven’t been listened to the Eat The Storms May Day Special featuring 32 poets from the 32 counties of Ireland then you need to. Available where you get your podcasts from normally. Also the Storms Journal is now open for submissions with the delightful Rhona Greene being sub-editor for this issue.More details on everything Storms related here.

And Finally…

A reminder that a couple of Book Bag alumni are appearing at Cheltenham Poetry Festival this coming week. Lesley Curwen who wrote ‘Rescue Lines’ will be appearing on Wednesday 14th May 2025, Chris Campbell, author of All Island No Sea will be appearing on Saturday 17th May 2025. Details on all events here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Soi-Même
  • Poet: Victoria Spires

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

Paul




Declaration

Artillery guns wisp their deathsmoke
for the final time. A nation takes breath 
while politicians straddle the direction of wind;
promises of rebuilding and restoration.
 
Widows and unmet children linger in doorways,
ready for the turn of a key
as Spring submits to Summer. 

Open-mouthed forests swallow bodies into nameless graves, 
roots drenched in blood and slaughter 
from all sides. 

The fight against fascism continues.

Monsters dwell.

Photo by Galt Museum & Archives on Unsplash

The Book Bag: Motherbunnet by Laura Cooney

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

Well it has been another busy week for me. ‘Glow: City At Night’ poetry anthology launched on Monday (available here), my piece ‘Nightclub Distillation’ is contained within the pages that are bursting with incredible poets, I’ve sent off some submissions, had a lovely rejection letter and planned more projects.

Also, I hosted the first ‘Write Here, Right Now’ online writing group which was a big success thanks mainly in part to all the supportive and conscientious attendees. I’m already planning number two.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

  • Poet: Laura Cooney
  • Press: 2nd Edition Laura Cooney (1st Ed. Backroom Poetry)


I’m a big fan of Laura Cooney, initially seeing her work in multiple lit mags and anthologies some of which I appear in, and also attending a workshop online ran by Alan Parry and hearing her read. She is a supportive and encouraging poet in all the prompts and response she participates in and her feedback is always insightful, a skill she uses in her role as one of the editors of Frazzled Lit.

So when I saw a post on BlueSky that she was having a second edition print run of ‘Motherbunnet’ I got myself a copy (no thanks to the scoundrels at Royal Mail).

There is real love shared in the pages of this book. The poem ‘I Am Here’ is a packed with emotion and protection. I think I’ve re-read the poem maybe 8 times (at time of writing). ‘I Could Complain All Day About The State of My Knees’ is another piece that shows the love Laura has for her children.

Laura is a poet who knows how to infuse humour into her poems. Pieces including ‘Just Admit It’, ‘Terms and Conditions’ and ‘. That’s When You Remember Why McDonalds Was Invented’ all had me laughing and smirking. Especially ‘Just Admit It’.


Themes of identity and perception recur through the pamphlet including in the title poem ‘Motherbunnet’, a piece that uses the bunnet as extended metaphor so deftly. A poem that stood out for me in this respect was ‘Mothering: Dreaming In An Awake State’. It is so full of internal grappling and poignant. The piece, ‘Two Macaws at Lunchtime’ is another study but of identity but with a shift in tone that still has Laura’s distinct style.

Imagery-rich pieces such as ‘Another Prayer’ and ‘The Place To Eat’ transport you and immerse you in Laura’s world. The observations are poetically sharp and tangible, and in the latter of the two when Laura peppers in some Scot’s language it adds an extra dimension.

Form is played with throughout the book, giving freedom to the words in the page and how they are read and spoken. The poems ‘Revolving Door’ and ‘3P BIO-WHO ARE You?’ are contrastingly distinct and deliver Laura’s message with real emphasis.

Motherbunnet is a sincere, funny and honest collection full of moments that take you on an emotional journey. Buy this if you appreciate poetry with connection that is steeped in reality.

Favourite Poem:
‘Sneaky Biscuits’ followed closely by ‘I Am Here’.

To find out more about Laura, her website is www.lozzawriting.com

To buy Motherbunnet, contact Laura directly on social media @lozzawriting.

One More Thing…

Laura is co-editor of Frazzled Lit magazine who have a forthcoming Short Story competition with entries open between 1st & 30th June 2025. The competition will be judged by Nuala O’Connor and full details can be found here.

And Another…

Broken Spine Arts has opened submissions for a new anthology, Haze: Counterculture Poetry. I’ll definitely be creating something to submit to this excellent theme. Details including submission info and rules here.

And Finally…

A new Silver Branch feature has landed on Black Bough poetry celebrating the incredible work of Robert Frede Kenter. His work always mesmerises me and this feature contains truly remarkable pieces, details of his new book ‘Father Tectonic’ and his approach to writing. The feature can be found here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Scattered Snows, to the North
  • Poet: Carl Phillips

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Poyums by Len Pennie

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

This week has been hectic and fun. A new oven installed, a trip to the Bluebell Woods in Morpeth for a walk with the dog. On top of that; I’ve had two poems accepted for the Beautiful Little Fools Anthology (out in July from Broken Spine Arts), celebrated Earth Day and the Bard’s Birthday with a couple of pieces posted for TopTweetTuesday and Twednesday. And to top it all off, the wonderful podcast from Susan Richardson, A Thousand Shades Of Green featured some of my work.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Poyums

  • Poet: Len Pennie
  • Press: Canongate Books

Poyums is the debut collection from Len Pennie. It is a book filled with unflinching honesty, raw emotion and powerful messages relating to issues including domestic violence. A large number of Len’s poems are in the Scot’s language, which emphasises the importance of the words on the page. I have Scottish blood from my Mam’s side of the family and didn’t even realise that Scot’s was a language and not dialect. As such i’ll research that a bit more.

A key theme within the book is empowerment. Pieces including ‘Reflections’ and ‘Contradictions’ tackle this subject in different ways. ‘Reflections’ is a standout piece of writing that gives a real impetus on female strength and reads like a letter written to women and girls, encouraging them to follow their own path.

There are also some dark moments scattered throughout the collection. This begins with the opening piece, ‘Honey’ a raw and honest account. Poems including ‘Mornin Fucker’ and ‘In The Name Ae The Wee Man’ also deal with the aftermath of an abusive relationship. The piece Ourobouros (my close second favourite) is sharp, incisive and cutting with a tremendous depth and defiance at the end.

Misogyny rears its ugly head in the poem ‘In Their Own Words’, created from messages sent to the author. This is a disturbing reminder of the world and the way in which some men think they can objectify women. It’s a shocking state of affairs. In fact, when researching ‘Poyums’, I was shocked to see how much crap the Len Pennie has had to deal with.

Len Pennie is deft at highlighting irony throughout her collection. This is expertly shown in the poem, ‘A Father of Daughters’ . In‘The Child’, Pennie shines a light on double standards that girls have to live with growing up.


An important theme within Poyums, is mental health. ’40 Seconds’ is a devastating poem centred around suicide. This is followed immediately by ‘Angels’. These are brave, heart-wrenching, important pieces.

Underlying a lot of the poetry is wit. The poem ‘Oh, Look’ delivers a tremendous closing line. The pieces ‘The Muse’ and ‘Aince Upon A Time’  are examples where humour shine through.

In terms of form, I’ve already mentioned letter-style poetry. The pieces in the collection use clever rhyme and meter which lends itself to performance and delivering the direct messages of these work to the reader. There are some terrific rhyming structures that also take place out of the confines of ending lines. The rhythm of the pieces can also take turns midway through.

This is a starkly honest collection of poetry that doesn’t avert its gaze from the ordeals that Len Pennie has gone through. It deals truth, grit and humour through the Scot’s language to deliver a poems that stick in your conscience. I’m looking forward to the second book ‘Poyums Annaw’ launching very soon.

Favourite Poem:

Adam and Steve

To find out more about Len Pennie, click here.

Poyums can be bought at independent bookshops as well as the major high street chains. You can also buy from Bookshop.Org

One More Thing…

As mentioned in the recap, I was lucky enough to be a featured poet on A Thousand Shades of Green Podcast. You can find the podcast on your preferred podcast platform or via the website; https://athousandshadesofgreen.com

And Another…

This coming Thursday is the first session of my new online writing group, Write Here, Right Now and I’m very excited.

And Finally…

I want to say a big thanks to the people who have reached out on social media with recommendations to appear in The Book Bag. I’m curating a list and you may see your recommendations live soon.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Motherbunnet
  • Poet: Laura Cooney

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Smatterings of Cerulean by Susan Richardson

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

This week has been mostly fun. An exquisite array of poetry at Black Bough Poetry open mic, attended Si Fellows’ online launch of Debone & Fold, took a trip to The Alnwick Garden to swing under the Taihaku blossom, went on a couple of woodland walks, enjoyed a couple of big wins for Newcastle United and I also picked up some books from one of the best bookshops in the North, Barter Books.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Smatterings of Cerulean

  • Poet: Susan Richardson
  • Press: Dark Winter Press

I first encountered Susan through her podcast ‘A Thousand Shades of Green’ which is a must listen for poetry lovers where Susan dedicates an episode to a singular poet, reading their work and closes with a poem of her own.  I became a bigger fan through engaging with the same prompts and poets on Twitter then BlueSky where her poetry always teems with emotion and imagery.

Smatterings of Cerulean is Susan’s third collection and is a poetry collection combining Susan’s poetry and photography by Ken Whytock.

A constant of the book, is the economy of language used in pieces. ‘Shore’ and ‘Transformation’ are both prime examples at what can be achieved when stripping back superfluous words. This is a tricky skill to master, I often try to cut out words to hit a brief and it can be a bit of a struggle. I’m sure a lot of poets would agree.

I’ve already mentioned Susan’s ability to capture emotion in her work. Poems including ‘Grief as an Ocean’ ‘Ricochet’ and ‘Ribbons’ all demonstrate this. ‘Until The Room is Airless’ is a masterpiece of Susan’s skill. It will give you pause.

‘Quietly’, ‘Hope’ and ‘Calling Love Home’ are all vivid displays of imagery, showcasing another of Susan’s trademarks. Bearing in mind that these poems are minimal in word count, with less than thirty words each, they all shine.

Layered throughout the collection, are personal poems related to blindness. Susan was diagnosed with a retinal disease in 2002. Examples include ‘Outline of Echoes’ ‘Eyes Closed’ and ‘Striking Colour’, the latter of which is powerfully defiant.

Talking of defiance, I’m glad to say this is a recurring theme in some of the pieces. Susan demonstrates her fight in poems including ‘From Silence’, ‘Through Nightfall’ and ‘Butcher’.

I must mention the curated images throughout the book. They all add an extra element to the work without any disconnection from the poetry. I particularly liked the changes in focus throughout with some softened and some sharp. So this is a shoutout to Ken Whytock.

Smatterings of Cerulean is a book with broad appeal. It will resonate with lovers of imagery and emotion especially when potently-packed into powerful small poems.

To hear Susan reading work from Smatterings of Cerulean, a link to the special A Thousand Shades of Green episode is available here along with all other episodes. Alternatively, listen to A Thousand Shades of Green wherever you normally access your podcasts.

To read more about Susan, her website can be found at: https://floweringink.com

To purchase a copy of Smatterings of Cerulean, click here.

Favourite Poem:

‘In The Veins’ or ‘Striking Colour’.

One More Thing…

On Sunday May 4th, Matthew MC Smith, Editor in Chief of Black Bough Poetry is hosting another of his excellent and highly recommended ‘Crafting Your Year in Poetry’ workshops, 630-9pm UK time. Details here. If you need that extra push to focus for your writing, get yourself along to it.

And Another…

I’m now using Instagram. My handle is paulwritespoems. Give me a follow for poetry-related stuff, landscapes and maybe a dog picture.

And Finally…

There are some excellent poetry collections out there I may not have heard about. If you have any suggestions for upcoming editions of The Book Bag, drop a comment below or send me a message on social media.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Poyums
  • Poet: Len Pennie

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

Paul

The Book Bag: New Famous Phrases by Daniel Hinds

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

In a week where I’ve received some voice messages from an array of characters, celebrated my Father-in-laws 70th birthday, attended a work conference on the other side of the River Tyne, enjoyed some sunshine, caught up with friends and watched Newcastle beat Leicester 3-0, I have also managed to finish a couple of audiobooks.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

New Famous Phrases

  • Poet: Daniel Hinds
  • Press: Broken Sleep Books


I first came across Daniel Hinds at a Black Bough Poetry Open Mic. A familiar accent and some exceptionally well-read pieces were enough to get me to find out more. Luckily his debut collection has just been released so I thought, I’ll have that.

New Famous Phrases is a collection that appreciates poetry and includes conversations with, and responses to, poems that came before. That’s not all though, the poetry within these pages is fresh, inventive (including prose poetry reviews) and sharp.

The poems ‘Crying of the Gulls’ and ‘Earth Giant’ are just two of the catalogue of incredible imagery rich pieces in this collection. The language and points of reference bring scenery to life and ground you in the moment. ‘Keeping Watch’ is another excellent display, placing the reader in the first lockdown.

There are strong evocative pieces throughout the collection. Pieces such as ‘I Haunt You Back’, ‘Sundog Howl’ and ‘Lady of the Rock’ are just some of the poems that make you pause.

Form is used in multiple ways. In fact, Daniel’s book reviews in the form of prose poems were commended in the National Centre for Writing’s UEA New Forms Award 2021. Obviously the dialogue poetry in itself is a form that plays a pivotal role in the collection also. ‘Phillip Pullman’s Graduation’ is a response piece that is divided into sections which adds to an extra dimension.

For fans of myths and heroes, you’re in for a treat. ‘Banquet For Penelope’ is a tremendous poem that contains perceptive imagery, taut emotion, clever wordplay and a cast of heroes. The piece ‘The Magi’s Camel’ in response to T.S Eliot is another remarkable example, vivid with a palpable undercurrent.

Daniel does humour and wit really well. Poems including ‘Untitled, The Fourth Monster’ (which contains some great northern vernacular) and Cryptid (The Mystery of Water) are standouts. The latter being perfect satire for the 2020’s. Also, throughout are some footnotes that will make you chuckle.

The conversation poetry is expertly done. None of the pieces feel clunky or in the realm of unintentional parody and caricature. The piece ‘The Train Goes Backwards’ is a great response to Ezra Pound’s ‘In A Station Of The Metro’.

Yes, you’ve read that correctly. I’ve mentioned Pound and Eliot, there’s also some Hughes responses, HD, Shelley, Keats, Wordsworth and more. All considered to be greats, so to tackle them could have been deemed a risk. But with great risk comes greater reward. Which is what this book ultimately is.

Buy New Famous Phrases if you like creative, inventive poetry that is rich in imagery and emotion that brings the old greats into the modern era with responses, challenges and respect.

Favourite Poem:

Cryptid (The Mystery of Water).

To learn more about Daniel, read his Society of Authors profile here.

New Famous Phrases is available to buy on Broken Sleep Books here.

One More Thing…

Daniel was this week’s host of Top Tweet Tuesday, posting a challenge to open dialogue with an imagist poem. My contribution can be found here.

And Another…

If you read The Book Bag last week, you’ll know that Debone & Fold has an online launch coming up on April 17th with special guests. To find out more, click the Broken Spine Arts events page here. You will also be able to check out upcoming workshops and other events.

And Finally…

Keep your eyes peeled for The Book Bag dropping a special Bonus episode on Wednesday.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Smatterings of Cerulean
  • Poet: Susan Richardson

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

Paul

Making Way

after Between Walls by William Carlos Williams

The polythene that hauntingly wail-screeched 
in the winter stormwind has been torn down.

No more shards of shattered beer bottles filter or flitter 
the daylight across the distressed concrete in spring. 
For now, grey remains grey.

Summer moths flourish-flounce in stale air, 
before flying off into lemon-sherbet sun.

Leaf litter, kindling dry, the colour of autumn fire 
has been swept up and soaked to stop 
the spread of flame.

Soon, in this periphery of the living, a new 
maternity ward will announce itself through cries 
and tears and the whirring melodies 
of diagnostic instruments.

Please see the image below for the original poem.

The Book Bag: Debone & Fold by Si Griffiths

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

Well this week has been fun. A trip to Northumberland, bagged myself some proper Craster Kippers, got out and about in the sunshine and walked the dog under sunsets the colour of beach towels. Got to read at the Broken Spine Arts open mic, caught up with some good friends, finished reading Understorey and my copy of the Poetry Review and my Cult of The Spiny Hog Goody box arrived.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Debone & Fold

  • Poet: Si Griffiths
  • Press: Broken Spine Arts

When I first heard that Si Griffiths’ debut, Debone & Fold was set against the backdrop of professional kitchens, I thought YES!!! (You probably won’t know this but I’ve been a trained chef since 18 and worked in kitchens until Covid.)

Being a chef is a tough job. It’s also a highly skilled yet mainly underpaid job. It’s not glamorous. To be a chef you need to be uncompromising, relentless and fearless, firing on all cylinders emotionally and mentally and understanding that you’re only as good as your last service (a lot like poetry).

Debone & Fold is served like a meal in a good restaurant. The courses, named in Italian, allow breath and relaxation before moving on to the next plate.

The opening poem drops us directly into the heart of the kitchen. ‘Zero Hours +/- ’ is an unwavering, unflinchingly authentic piece on the pressures and challenges that chefs face daily especially during busy periods, in this case December. This is not a glamourised made-for-tv kitchen, this is the real deal. It’s so vivid, I started thinking about the mise-en-place I used to do and sighed relief at the realisation I don’t have that responsibility anymore.


The relentless environment is also explored in the poem ‘Regimental Anarchy’ but in a different way. Every chef across the country has experienced the treatment dished out by that Sous.

The darker side of kitchens comes to the forefront in the piece ‘To Pass The Pass’. This situation would have been observed by many chefs over the years. I’ve witnessed some fairly shady stuff in some of the places I’ve worked.

This book reminds me of a quote by the late Anthony Bourdain, ‘The cooking profession, while it’s a noble craft and a noble calling, ’cause you’re doing something useful – you’re feeding people, you’re nurturing them, you’re providing sustenance – it was never pure.’

The collection isn’t all about the blood, sweat and tears. There are tender moments scattered throughout in the tale of a romantic relationship evolving over time including the poem ‘Hors d’Ouvres’. This is a piece that takes the chef from the kitchen and shows the other side. Dining out, sharing a special meal with another, lost in the moment. The realisation that it’s closing time as the chairs are stacked is a great image.

Si is creative with form. Carefully plating up pieces including ‘Gangplank’, ‘Long Term Love’ and ‘Temper Temper’. The way they are laid out and read give extra depth. A recipe poem is tricky but the skill in which ‘Long Term Love’ is crafted is exceptional.

There’s a real level of detail in this collection. In ‘All In The Game’ the handling of produce is described meticulously. The respect Si Griffiths shows for ingredients is a cornerstone of a being a great chef that translates into being a great poet, where words are now his raw materials aside from the deft touch addressing produce. I must also mention the poem ‘Michelin’ and references to the mother sauces, Escoffier and other little morsels. They authenticate Si’s knowledge, skill and experience in the kitchen.

Insight into a chef’s mentality is expertly displayed in ‘Don’t Do Things By Halves’. Any chef who has pride in their work can be easily disappointed sitting in a restaurant where ‘fresh’ only comes in the form of a sliced lemon. This becomes an issue when trying to remain present for your partner or family. It’s not a case of snobbery, it’s pride in the craft.


This collection is passionate, authentic and unflinching with steel-sharpened observations. For me, it was like a delicious meal, finished in one sitting but with a couple of my favourite pieces set aside to return for leftovers. I’ve gone back to it three times already. It is now sitting on my bookshelf with Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential.

Favourite Poem:
I can’t pick just one so I’ll give you three. ‘Apron Strings’, ‘A Moment Brocaded’ and ‘It’s All In The Game.’ I could easily extend my choices such is the depth.

You can buy Debone & Fold here.

You can also join the online launch of Debone & Fold taking place on April 17th at 7pm. Details here.

One More Thing…

Alongside their workshops that contribute to the 2026 Poetry Award fund, Broken Spine Arts currently have 2 submission windows. A call for short stories with a festive theme and a window for coming of age poetry. The Broken Spine website can be accessed here.

And Another…

Black Bough Poetry have one of their open mic’s coming up. On Sunday 13th April 2025 you can join a welcoming and supportive environment to read three short poems or sit back and relax and take in the wondrous poetic performances. Booking details are here – I’ll be there.

And Another…

The final touches are getting put together for my online writing group with invites to a taster session going out by 14/04/2025.

And Finally…

Keep an eye out for a surprise bonus edition of The Book Bag coming very soon.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Famous New Phrases
  • Poet: Daniel Hinds

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

Paul

The Book Bag: A Dress With Deep Pockets by Jen Feroze

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope your week has been poetically rich.

This week I managed to play my saxophone with less pain and made good progress learning Mr PC by John Coltrane. I also got to speak to one of my poetry heroes Matthew MC Smith, wrote a new piece and ramped up writing group plans. I also spent some time in Northumberland seeing family.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

A Dress With Deep Pockets

  • Poet: Jen Feroze
  • Press: Smith|Doorstop Books

I’m a big fan of Jen Feroze. Having heard and read Jen’s poetry in several places both online and in print including Iamb, Dust, Ink Sweat and Tears and more, I’ve also had the pleasure of interacting via social media through Top Tweet Tuesday.

The collection is acknowledged ‘For my friends’ so it should not come as a surprise that friendship is a main theme of the book. At its heart, this pamphlet deals greatly with people and place.

‘Hare Girl’ is the opening poem and introduces readers to an old friend with a perfect blend of nostalgia, imagery and humour. For people who ever camped while under the influence of cheap spirits and artificial cider in their early teens, like me, this was very relatable.

I first heard the poem ‘Gorge’ in Wave 16 of Iamb poetry and is a piece that displays Jen’s skill in encompassing multiple emotions and moods into a piece. The shifts in tone throughout the poem give it an importance like the Gorge itself. The feeling of wanting to escape small towns for cities is reminiscent of many people I grew up with including me.

For readers who like to see different forms used in a collection will be happy that there are multiple styles used throughout. ‘Let’s Start A Commune’, a stream of consciousness poem (my favourite) and a golden shovel ‘It’s 2003 and Joni is Teaching Me About Love’ and ‘Anne in December’ are three distinct pieces.

The poem ‘Now I’m Older I Can Call Her Linda’ deals with the how we see adults in authority as children then as adults. The piece ‘I Invite my Grown-Up Daughter Round For Her Dinner’ is the opposite in premise. How adults see children in the future and wondering if the impression will be the reality.

The way in which relationships are portrayed throughout the collection are honest. Jen brings her friends and family from the page into the world with all their idiosyncrasies. The people all seem familiar as if they were part of your social circle or wider community. A great example of this, is the piece ‘The Four Of Us In August’.

I could go on an on about the poems in this collection. I would talk more about the friendships on show in this collection, but they are so special I will let you find out for yourself.

This pamphlet is a showcase on people and place, friendship and time.  It is relatable, heartfelt and soulful poetry.

To read more about Jen and buy this book, find more details at https://jackdaweditorial.com/

To listen to Gorge and other poems by Jen on Iamb click here.

Favourite Poem:
‘Let’s Start A Commune’ followed closely by ‘Gorge’ and ‘Will You Be My Friend, Grace Dent’.

One More Thing…

Broken Spine Arts are holding two workshops in April. Untamed: Writing Without Fear is on April 13th with Write the Night taking place on April 27th. I have attended both of these workshops in the past and found them engaging and useful. I managed to craft solid poems from each workshop. Also, all funds made go directly into Broken Spine’s Award Fundraising Campaign. Details of Broken Spine Events can be found here: https://thebrokenspine.co.uk/event-calendar/

And Another…

The landmark 60th Anniversary issue of Poetry Wales is now available celebrating 60 new Welsh poets. For more details click here.

Finally…

There are a couple of really good submissions open at the moment that I’ve saw online. Links are below, and if you’d like me to share more competition or submissions news let me know in the comments or on social media.
The Madrigal
The Interpreter’s House (opens on 1st April)

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Debone and Fold
  • Poet: Si Griffiths

Just Before You Go

I was very sad to hear of the passing of Ivor Daniel, an incredibly kind and supportive poet and man whose work I admired for his distinctive style. Matthew MC Smith has created a beautiful tribute to Ivor which includes some of his work here.

Mark Anthony Owen has also paid tribute to Ivor on Iamb. You can hear Ivor recite his poetry here.

Take care and be poetic,

Paul