poetryblog

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

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

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

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

When It Rained For A Million Years

  • Poet: Paul Farley
  • Press: Picador

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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


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

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

Favourite Poem

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

One More Thing…

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

And Another…

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

And Finally…

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

The Next Read Coming on 15th June 2025

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

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

Paul

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




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