review

The Book Bag: Hatchery by Elizabeth Osmond

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

Well what a couple weeks I’ve had! I feel like I’ve been non-stop but the train has slowed for a while…

The online launch of Unwhispered Legacy was a massive success and I have been overwhelmed by the sheer scale of positivity sent my way. Thank you to all the readers and audience who joined and thanks to those who tried their hardest to make it.

I was lucky to be invited to participate in Poetry (in Brief) hosted by the excellent Rachel Turney in association with Wild Roof Journal where we discussed inspiring overseas places. I learnt so much during the event from the other poets and I have a travel itinerary now. You can watch the video here. Rachel is also this month’s Poetic Voice. Catchup on a cracking part 1 of her feature here which includes a Q& A and poems from her recently released collection Retired Wannabe Kid Club.

Last Sunday evening, I hosted a Book Bag Open Mic which was such a great event and the variety of poetry shared was terrific. Tickets for the next open mic are now on sale but are limited. Grab them here.

The allotment is a marvel. We harvested our first radish (icicle) of the year and used it in a steak salad. Can’t wait to harvest alot more! Bad news though, a snail has eaten our sunflowers. Lucky, we have some more ready to be planted.

Write Here, Right Now happened on Thursday and was a wonderful evening where I got to spend dedicated time on my writing. I shared a WIP and got some really valuable insight. I hope to complete the piece this weekend. The next one is in June, reach out if you’d like to know more.

We paid a visit to the Bluebell Woods in Bothal on May Bank Holiday. It was a carpet of bluebells (obviously) and wild garlic. There was so much birdsong, I shared a couple of pictures from my Merlin App but it cut off a couple of species.

On top of that I’ve been reading;

Hatchery

  • Poet: Elizabeth Osmond
  • Press: V Press

Hatchery is Elizabeth’s debut pamphlet that draws on themes including the history of neonatology and experience of working in the NHS.

Elizabeth’s empathy shines through the pamphlet and gives every piece authenticity. Two of my favourite pieces are the heartfelt ‘The Tiny Nappy’ and ‘I Wish I Could Write You A Prescription For Time’. These both have made a huge impression on me this week and have reminded me of the need for kindness. ‘Conversation’, another of my favourites, made me very emotional. ‘Dads’ is another piece that shows Elizabeth’s empathetic approach to people and poetry.

Hatchery delivers humour in well-placed positions in the book. I couldn’t help but smile at ‘Newbie’ and also the wry matter-of-fact description in ‘Newborn Check’.

Excerpt from Newborn Check

Elizabeth tackles challenging subjects throughout the book. ‘Mandatory E-Learning For Consent’ is a remarkable poem. As is ‘Spectacle’. Probably my absolute favourite poem in the book is ‘Doctors in Difficulty’, an authentic illustration of what being a doctor in 2026 is like and everything that comes with it.

Excerpt from Spectacle

Elizabeth’s skill in language, imagery and metaphor is present from the first poem and throughout. The piece ‘I Married The NHS’ is surreal and vivid filled with animalia. This continues in the piece ‘Neonatologist Visits The Reptile House’ which is delicate and tender. The book is perfectly balanced between realism and surrealism.

For all the fans of various forms and styles, Hatchery has you covered. ‘Ode To A Towel’ uses a couplet structure, there’s several ‘after’ pieces including ‘Hatched’. Elizabeth uses space as implied erasure to create an amazing effect in the piece ‘Spaced Out’.

This is a book which will appeal to poetics who appreciate emotive writing that is rooted in lived experience. It will strike a chord with parents and (adult) children. Readers who love explorations of form, language and imagery will enjoy this book. Grab it with both hands and hold it close, it’s a gem of a book.

To buy Hatchery, click here.

Keep up to date with Elizabeth on BlueSky, here.

Favourite Poem:

I’ve already mentioned ‘Doctors in Difficulty’, ‘The Tiny Nappy’, ‘If I Could Write You A Prescription For Time’ and ‘Conversation’. I must also add the following handful; ‘Prognosis’, ‘I Want To Show You The Sink’, ‘On The Uses Of Pomanders’, ‘Making An Exhibition of Myself’ and ‘Bits’.

Oh, you stuck around for a playlist, did you? Here’s an eclectic mix for you…

Jack Johnson – Better Together
Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
Carole King – You’ve Got A Friend
Novo Amor – Anchor
Queen & David Bowie – Under Pressure
Brandi Carlile – The Story
Eva Cassidy – Songbird
The Paper Kites – Bloom
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris – Wildflowers
Tracy Chapman – The Promise
Norah Jones – Nightingale

Before I Go…
Elizabeth is hosting an online zoom launch for Hatchery on the 17th of May with a fantastic lineup. Ticket details here.

One More Thing…
Dust Poetry Magazine is still accepting submissions until the 17th May. Full details including submission guidelines here. Send them your best work.

And Finally…
The excellent Frazzled Lit Short Story Competition is returning for 2026. For those thinking of entering check the details which includes a grand grand prize, click here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Chasms
  • Poet: Carmella de Keyser

Take it easy, stay poetic and practice kindness.

I’ll catch you next week.

Paul

The Book Bag: Poetic Voices – May 2026

If you can believe it, it’s May. How did that happen? I can’t be the only person who feels like time is running at full sprint? Anyway enough digressing, it’s the first day of the month which means…time to introduce a new Poetic Voice.

I first encountered May’s Poet on social media. Then I read her book Retired Wannabe Club Kid (and offered a blurb) and saw how much she was doing for the international poetry community and I knew I had to include her Poetic Voice in 2026.

Welcome… Rachel Turney.

This month we have poems from Rachel’s collection Retired Wannabe Club Kid (with a playlist), original poetry and an interview.

Rachel Turney, Ed.D. (she/her) is the Writer in Residence (2026) at NKollectiv in Englewood, Colorado. Her poems, research articles, reviews, and drawings can be found in a variety of publications. Rachel is passionate about immigrant rights, teacher support, and empowering other artists. She is a Writers’ Hour prize winner and Best of the Net nominee. Her photography appears on a few magazine covers. Rachel is the founder of the popular online reading series Poetry (in Brief). She is on staff at Bare Back Magazine with her monthly column Friday Night in the Suburbs. She reads for The Los Angeles Review.

Website: turneytalks.com Instagram: @turneytalks Bluesky: rachelturney 

Books released or releasing in 2026: 

Record Player Life with The Poetry Lighthouse – Buy here
Retired Wannabe Club Kid with Parlyaree Press – Buy here
To Be (a Woman) with redrosethorns – Pre-order here
Women Making Soup Together with Vinegar Press – Buy here

In this first instalment of Rachel’s feature I have 3 poems for you from various sections of Rachel’s book Retired Wannabe Club Kid with accompanying recommendations for music (these will be included in the full playlist in the 2nd instalment) as well as a brief Q&A…

Poem 1 is Redefining Night and it speaks to the raver in me.

Track Recommendations:
Beautiful Like Me – Joydrop 
Seventeen – Ladytron

Poem 2 ‘Europe’ takes us on a Clubber’s tour around the continent. It’s made me quite nostalgic…

Track Recommendation:
Take Me to the Club – Mannequin

Poem 3 is a cosmic banger of a piece and one of my favourites…

Track Recommendation:
What Else Is There? – Röyksopp 

I asked Rachel a few questions about her writing…

PS: An easy one to begin with. What made you want to become a poet?

RT: Well, really doesn’t everyone want to be a best-selling fiction writer? But alas it turns out we are the chaotic poet just praying that one person will read our little poems about darkness, night, and maybe aliens. A person doesn’t choose poetry – poetry chooses you! 

But really – I started the hobby of writing creatively when I was in elementary school, mostly short stories. I only recently sort of refound writing as a form of expression. I wrote a lot of the pieces in Retired Wannabe Club Kid as EDM lyrics and then I tried to learn how to use GarageBand without any success. I saw a few one woman shows at Iceland Airwaves back in 2019 where musicians looped their own music and sang and I was like damn I wanna do that. I then learned I cannot do that – lol. I tried to employ my father and brother, both exceptionally talented musicians, to help me but they didn’t “see the vision”, if you will. I am still looking for a collaborative partner if anybody reading this is interested. 

PS: What is your writing process on a typical day? 

RT: If you had asked me that a couple months ago the answer would be totally different than now! I used to have a structured routine, but I have abandoned it. Honestly, I think I got burnt out which won’t be surprising for anyone to hear – I do too much. I’m trying to “create” less. I do try to be true to one thing though – always writing things down. I have little notebooks around the house and some prompt journals as well that I use from time to time. Writing processes evolve and change and I think that’s a good thing. 

In April I participated in One Poem Only’s After program, where I wrote a poem each day “after” the poem that was read on One Poem Only. Practices like this can be helpful as long as they aren’t forced. I am slowing down as a writer and trying to focus more on my reading series Poetry (in Brief). In fact, now is a great time to announce that I am starting a magazine based on my reading series! Stay tuned for more information on that!

PS: Movement and music play a big part in your poetry. How did this influence start and how do you keep it original and fresh in your work rather than making it feel routine?

RT: I come from a family of artists, musicians, and singers. I struggled to find my medium growing up. For a time, I rejected or didn’t honor the art and music side of me. It can be daunting when you are surrounded by talent. What I do have that the rest of my family lacks is fortitude. You can reject my poem 1,000 times; I’ll just keep submitting. I have found that this is necessary in the world of poetry, which is a very subjective art form. I think I have found my place in the art world now. 

To the second question – I would like to think I achieved that by compiling all of my poems in this genre of music and movement in one collection: Retired Wannabe Club Kid. This collection is wildly different from the other three I have published. I don’t write in this style currently/anymore. I feel like I completed that work and I have moved to other influences and types of poetry. Right now, I am trying to write more prose and explore new genres like horror, science fiction, and surrealism. 

PS: You do a lot of wonderful promotion for the poetry community. Do you have any tips for poets who want to get their work seen by a broader audience?

RT: Read and get involved with literary magazines. Three years ago, I had published literally one poem during the pandemic – a poem which is included in my book coming out on May 13th 2026 – To Be (a Woman). It wasn’t until I started submitting to literary magazines that I gained confidence. Now my work has appeared in hundreds of publications and I have made connections with so many EICs and other poets. 

Another way to build connections is to champion the work of others. When I pick up a literary magazine, I read the pieces by the folks I know first and that I chat with on social media. I met most of the people I talk to regularly through my invited reading series Poetry (in Brief). I had a little group of poets I really admired and I thought hey I wanna meet these people, so I started a reading series to connect with others and create a space for community.

PS: Finally, beside you, who are the other poets we should be reading at the moment?

RT: I think a great place to find the freshest voices is through literary magazines! The editors curate their pages usually out of hundreds of submissions and tend to bring a collection of current and necessary poetry. Find a few lit magazines you enjoy, support them, and keep up with their editions. A few magazines I keep up with are Wild Roof, Orange Rose, Moss Puppy, Thorn & Bloom Magazine (by redrosethorns), anything Paul Short is doing – like your anthology Unwhispered Legacy that just came out (nods at Paul), Drip Lit, and so many others! 

Instagram accounts I recommend following: 

The Poetry Lighthouse publishes new poems directly to their Instagram from poets all over the world. You really get a good sense of what poetry is doing globally if you follow them. @thepoetrylighthouse

Quillkeepers – Stephanie Lamb (EIC) posts her own calls and many others in her stories. She champions the work of others. @quillkeeperspress

Here are a couple poets I keep up with on Instagram and why: 

Nana – Nana does interesting things with rhyme and storytelling. I really respect his work. 
@whatnanawrote

Sandra Beth Levy – She posts her poems and just has a very positive page that uplifts others. 
@slevy43 

And of course, follow me and say hello! @turneytalks 

PS: Thanks Rachel. I completely agree with your recommendations and advice.

We’re back for Part Two of Rachel’s feature, sharing 2 more poems from Retired Wannabe Club Kid with suggested track recommendations plus a Playlist full of bangers to get your groove on.

We are jetting off on a global trip this time. This is ‘Veni Ad Me’

Track Recommendations:
Running Up That Hill – Kate Bush 
It Can’t Come Quickly Enough – Scissor Sisters

And Poem 5 is jaw-droppingly sharp and concise. It made me look over my social media to see if i could still see the rough edges of me.


Track Recommendation:
Memory – Alex Le Mirage

To go alongside Rachel’s excellent track recommendations, here’s a Book Bag Playlist to accompany Retired Wannabe Club Kid. This is not for the faint hearted.

Warning: Prolonged Exposure To This Playlist Will Result in Dancing.



Pacific State – 808 State
Voodoo Ray – A Guy Called Gerald
Good Life – Inner City
What Time Is Love? – The KLF
Chime – Orbital
Release the Pressure – Leftfield
Insomnia – Faithless
Leave Home – The Chemical Brothers
Breathe – The Prodigy
Right Here, Right Now – Fatboy Slim
E Talking – Soulwax
Another Chance – Roger Sanchez
Red Alert – Basement Jaxx
At the River – Groove Armada
Around the World – Daft Punk
Get Get Down – Paul Johnson
Lady (Hear Me Tonight) – Modjo
Children – Robert Miles
Café Del Mar – Energy 52
For an Angel – Paul van Dyk
9 PM (Till I Come) – ATB
Punk – Ferry Corsten
Traffic – Tiësto
Call on Me – Eric Prydz
Waters of Nazareth – Justice
Zdarlight – Digitalism
One – Swedish House Mafia
Yeah – LCD Soundsystem
And As Recommended by Rachel, Party Monster Soundtrack – Every Single Song

Come back on the 21st for the 3rd instalment for more poems by Rachel.

In the meantime, get dancing!!!

The Book Bag: Cherry Blossom At Nightbreak by Rishi Dastidar

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

I’ve had a very busy week.

Work is ramping up ahead of Summer. I’m all settled into my new team and I’m learning more each day.

The allotment progresses more each passing day. Peas are now in their bed, turnips are planted, sunflowers are in the border. It won’t be long until we can start picking salad leaves.

On Sunday, I was at The Alnwick Garden to experience the Taihaku Cherry Orchard for the last day of its peak bloom. I took this week’s read to enjoy on the swings under the blossom. Coupled with the Japanese lanterns, chimes and traditional music, it was super relaxing.

After the Garden, I went to my parents for Sunday lunch. Cracking Roast Beef.

Sunday evening was the launch of Eleanor Holmes’s #Moth. It was an excellent launch with great readers, beautiful harp and a look behind the creation process from Sara who runs Ethel. Catch up with Eleanor’s Poetic Voice Feature here.

The running order has been finalised for the Unwhispered Legacy launch night, (subject to change). Join me and a stellar lineup of poets reading from the anthology, grab your tickets here.

On Friday, I attended an online workshop hosted by Sasha Debevec-McKenney, as part of Bristol’s Lyra Poetry Festival programme of events. It was a fantastic evening and has given me new techniques and a different perspective on approaching poems. We also read the work of 3 poets I wasn’t familiar with. I will now be buying more books!

This week, I’ve been reading;

Cherry Blossom At Nightbreak

  • Poet: Rishi Dastidar
  • Press: Nine Arches Press

Rishi’s poetry has real heart. The pieces ‘A leopard parses his concerns’ and ‘A man of theory on the Via Publica’ are two of my favourites that deal with relationships exceptionally well as is ‘Chromophilia (Song for B)’ and the title poem ‘Cherry Blossom At Nightbreak’ (another of my favourites). I’ll also add that ‘Charon the bus driver’ is a poem that made me happy.

Excerpt from Chromophilia

A spotlight is shone on the everyday. This is another of Rishi’s powers as a writer, to make poetry accessible and relatable. ‘Rake with telescopic handle’ and ‘Playing tag’ are both excellent examples of this. The poem ‘Knives raised in prayer’ takes us to the hallowed halls of Ikea, adding philosophical questions to the shelves.

There is plenty of humour in the book. ‘On bullshit jobs’ is one of my favourites because of its authenticity. On the following page is ‘Meanwhile in Ebisu’ a terrific example of satirical poetry. ‘I dreamed I stopped traffic’ is another chuckle worthy piece that makes great use of Pantone. I knew straightaway who would appreciate the poem.

‘Felt despairing, might delete later’ (one of my favourites), is a sad and strong assessment on the state of the current political situation. Its compact nature gives heightens the emotional language. ‘Credentialism’ is a smart poem that startled and stayed with me all week, especially the last line.

Excerpt from Felt despairing, might delete later

The style and form fans are well catered for in the collection. The use of couplets and line breaks in ‘Scapegoat-ish’ give it a tremendous rhythm. There is rhyme poetry in ‘Love’s Renewal’, a sprawling sequence poem named ‘the break of a wave’ which includes the clever ‘To his mistress moving to LA’ and a variety of styles. There is also free verse, a reverse ghazal, sonnets, an almost sonnet and more.

This is a book that will appeal to many readers for its heart, warmth, relatability and accessibility. Humour and hope can be found across the pages. Form is played with throughout so the technique lovers will adore this collection. I hadn’t even scratched the surface of how much I could write on this book, but I will say it’s one of the best collections I’ve read this year.

Favourite Poem:

I’ve already mentioned ‘A leopard parses his concerns’, ‘A man of theory on the Via Publica’, ‘Cherry Blossom At Nightbreak’, ‘On bullshit jobs’ and ‘Felt despairing, might delete later’. I’ll add another handful; ‘How to verb a sore heart’, ‘The late-style of my funk dancing’, ‘This Year My Only Strategy Was To Read Books About Strategy, To Work Out What To Do The Year After’, ‘Modern ruin’ and ‘Melted cockerel’. I could keep going.

Read more about Rishi here.

Buy Cherry Blossom At Nightbreak here.

If you’ve stayed for a playlist, then you’re in luck.

The Horrors – Still Life
Shakedown – At Night
Bill Withers – Ain’t No Sunshine
Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby
Tori Amos – Bouncing Off Clouds
Sheryl Crow – All I Wanna Do
Taylor Swift – Cardigan
Fatboy Slim – Praise You
John Coltrane – Naima
Bob Sinclar – World Hold On
Paolo Nutini – Cherry Blossom
Nightbreakers – Quarter to Midnight

Before I Go…

Last week I mentioned the Black Bough anthology in response to The Wasteland. ‘Shored Fragments’ is now able to purchase and the poets included are fantastic. Details here.

One More Thing…

I’ll be taking part in Poetry (In Brief) hosted by the delightful Rachel Turney on Saturday May 2nd. Full details and how to join can be found here.       

And Another…

If you’d like to be in the audience for The Book Bag: Open Mic Sessions, you can grab your tickets here. Sunday May 3rd. 7pm UK time.

And Finally…

No regular Book Bag next week but when I return, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on Hatchery by Elizabeth Osmond.

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Strike by Sarah Wimbush

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

What an eventful week!

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

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

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

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

On top of that I’ve been reading;

Strike

  • Poet: Sarah Wimbush
  • Press: Stairwell Books

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

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

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

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

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

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

Excerpt from Berry Hill

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Next Week’s Read

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

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

Paul

The Book Bag: After Party by Dean Browne

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

This week has been fun and fast.

I started the week with taking the dog to a secure field and woodland so he could run free and explore. He slept well on Sunday evening.

I received a letter with some beautiful poetry, followed closely by ‘the taro as deer’ by Caroline Harris.

Work has been busy and I am learning more in my new role daily. It was our company conference and hearing from the guest speakers was inspiring on the topic and approach to education.

It was another wonderful Write Here, Right Now. I set a rather complex prompt which was different to my previous prompts. I think it worked well. I am very proud of the small community that makes up Write Here, Right Now. Everyone has a different perspective which helps tremendously when reflecting on your writing and taking editorial suggestions.

I got to catch the Last Saturday Poets which was a showcase of Hedgehog Press poets. The readings were perfect as was the artwork shared by Karen Pierce Gonzalez.

It was also great to see Paul Connolly announce his debut book, coming out with Broken Sleep in 2027.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

After Party

  • Poet: Dean Browne
  • Press: Picador Poetry

After Party is the debut collection from Dean Browne. And what a debut it is. This is a book that takes you with it as it explores multiple themes from different perspectives and angles. I now need to get a copy of his chapbook, Kitchens at Night.

Vivid, textured imagery jumps from the page in many of the poems in this book giving an immersive feeling. ‘Listening To Joni Mitchell’s Blue While Cooking Peposo’ is fantastic and one of my favourites in the collection. ‘Scuttle’ is another excellent example as is ‘Fascinators’.

Several of the pieces use surrealism with great effect. It’s an excellent skill to connect with readers at a subconscious level using weird and unexpected language and images. The poems ‘Quiche’ and ‘Notes Toward an Epithalamium’ are both excellent examples in my opinion.

Excerpt of Quiche

We are treated to deep emotion in multiple ways across the collection. The poem ‘Percy French’ is a swathe of emotion, mostly regret and unexpected grief. The piece ‘Pinball’ (one of my favourites) moved me considerably. A dark humour fills ‘Parachuting Into The Volcano’ and ‘Prayer For Buster Keaton’ compared to ‘Butternut Squash’.

Fans of poets exploring different form are in luck in this book. Micro ‘The Infinite’ is tightly packed and appears in your mind and stays almost immediately. The piece ‘Horse Chestnuts’ (one of my favourites) uses excellent repetition to convey the atmosphere. The use of couplets in ‘The Pineapple Massage’ adds to the quirky feel of the piece.

After Party is an absolute corker of a book. It will appeal to readers who appreciate vivid imagery, humour and surrealism. Fans of form will love the variation. As debut collections go, this is one of the best I’ve read and i highly recommend you add it to your poetry library.

Favourite Poem
I’ve already mentioned ‘Listening To Joni Mitchell’s Blue While Cooking Peposo’, ‘Horse Chestnuts’ and ‘Pinball’ so I’ll add another seven. ‘The Triangle’, ‘Days Of The Brindled Cow’, ‘Synastry Chart’, ‘The Cup’, ‘Aide-Mémoire’, ‘Spacer’ and ‘Oink’ are still sticking in my mind.

To read more on Dean Browne click here.

To buy After Party, click here.

An After Party and The Book Bag wouldn’t be complete without the playlist. This week I have a special mix of music across genres;

Groove Armada – At The River
David Bowie – Life on Mars
Tiësto – Adagio for Strings
Dua Lipa – Levitating
Queen – Flash
The Weeknd – Blinding Lights
Roger Sanchez – Another Chance
Stardust – Music Sounds Better With You
The Cranberries – Linger
Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love
Jay-Z Featuring Mr Hudson – Young Forever
Joni Mitchell – California

Before I Go…

Unwhispered Legacy is launching on Tuesday. Hopefully it can raise some money for Médecins Sans Frontières. Keep an eye on social media for when the anthology goes live. My handle is @PaulWritesPoems across Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X and BlueSky.

One More Thing…

Remember to check out Vikki C’s March Poetic Voice feature here. It includes the Forward prize nominated ‘Morningfall’.

And Another…

Evie Carlyn has created a new space for poetry on BlueSky using the hashtag PoemsAloud. All you need to do is upload audio or video files of your poems.

And Finally…

Congratulations to all who had success in the National Poetry Competition especially the overall winner, Partridge Boswell. The Gathering is a wonderful poem.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Strike
  • Poet: Sarah Wimbush

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

Paul

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Birds | Humans | Machines | Dolphins

  • Poet: Genevieve Carver
  • Press: Guillemot Press


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

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

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

Excerpt from ~buzz~

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

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

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

Favourite Poem:

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

To read more about Genevieve Carver click here.

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

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

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

Before I Go…

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

One More Thing…

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

And Another…

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

And Finally…

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

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: After Party
  • Poet: Dean Browne

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Circulaire by Bex Hainsworth

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

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

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Circulaire

  • Poet: Bex Hainsworth
  • Press: Written Off Publishing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Favourite Poem:

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

To learn more about Bex, click here.

To buy Circulare, click here.

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

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

Before I Go…

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

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

One More Thing…

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

And Another…

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

And Another…

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

And Finally…

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

Next Week’s Read

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

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Songs from Last Imaginations by Dorian Nightingale

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

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

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Songs From Last Imaginations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Favourite Poem:

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

You can find more on Dorian, here.

Dorian’s pamphlet can be bought here.

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

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

Before I Go…

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

One More Thing…

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

And Another…

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

And Finally…

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

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Circulaire
  • Poet: Bex Hainsworth

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Make Up My Mind by Leia Butler

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Make Up My Mind

  • Poet: Leia Butler
  • Press: Steel Incisors


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Next Week: Something a little bit different…

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

Paul

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

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

I’ve had quite the week.

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

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

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Favourite Poem:

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

To read more about Salena, click here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Next Week:

  • The Book Bag Christmas List

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

Paul