The Book Bag

The Book Bag: Poetic Voices – December 2025

And here we are. The final month of a year, that has gone by far too fast. It feels like only yesterday, I was taking decorations down in January, however only yesterday I was putting the decorations back up for the festive season.

As we’re in a new month, a new Poetic Voice has arrived. And I am ecstatic that this month in The Book Bag, I am featuring the work of a poetry superstar… Sophie Dumont. I first found Sophie’s poetry through the excellent Chris Campbell and became a fan instantly. Then I read the background to her debut book Sculling, and I reached out pretty much immediately for Sophie to be a Poetic Voice. Sculling is a profound debut collection. It has challenged my way of thinking and is quite brilliant.

Sophie Dumont is a writer based in Bristol. Her debut collection Sculling was published on National Poetry Day October 2025 and has since featured in the Guardian, Sunday Times Style and Financial Times. Her poetry won the Brian Dempsey Memorial Prize and has been published in The Rialto, Magma, The Moth, Ink Sweat and Tears and Mslexia among others.

She has an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University and has held writing residencies along Bristol Harbourside with Boat Poets and Exeter Quay through Literature Works. Find out more at  www.sophiedumont.co.uk

Follow Sophie on Instagram, Bluesky or TikTok.

Credit: Jae Frederick
Credit: Jae Frederick

Sculling is published by Corsair (who kindly provided the rights to use poems from the collection) and can be purchased here.

The first poem, is ‘Ghazal for when I think of you, I think of me’.

One of the main themes in Sculling is how one can live on through a selfless act of organ donation by saving others. Because of this, I wanted to raise some awareness for Organ Donation, which is a vital service that can help save lives. In the UK, information can be accessed here: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/.

Where are these December days going? It feels like only yesterday I was sharing the first part of Sophie’s feature.

Today, I am sharing another stunning piece from Sculling, titled ‘Celandine’. I am so grateful that Sophie is sharing work from her excellent debut collection.

I’m looking forward to sharing further pieces from Sophie throughout December. Bookmark this post and return on the 18th of December to read another poem from this remarkable collection. Sculling is one of my personal picks in The Book Bag Christmas Gift List which can be found here.

Stay Poetic,

Paul

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

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

I’ve had quite the week.

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

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

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

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

On top of that, I’ve been reading;


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Favourite Poem:

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

To read more about Salena, click here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Next Week:

  • The Book Bag Christmas List

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Fourth & Walnut by Jeremy Over

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

I’ve a terrific week this week. Let’s start with poetry. The inaugural Book Bag: Open Mic Session was a success, and I feel so grateful for everyone who attended and shared such excellent poetry. Also, your comments and Session Two is happening on January 11th. Tickets go on sale soon and will be announced on social media first.

A further poem from Latch by this month’s Poetic Voice, Rebecca Goss was added to her feature and can be read here. Weir is a tremendous piece and I feel lucky to be in a position where poets trust me to share their work.

I’ve had an acceptance (woop!). I’ve written a couple of pieces and submitted to a couple of different journals. I received proofs of two print anthologies which I have work in (more details of those coming soon).

I also read at The Black Bough Open Mic as a Featured Poet which was an honour and privilege. I’m feeling more confident and comfortable with readings compared to last year. I’ll be focusing on adding more readings to my Instagram.

I’ve also been able to work at the allotment and I’m so happy with the progress we’ve made so far. We harvested some radishes and roasted them to go in a winter salad with walnuts, beetroot and goat cheese. Delicious and simple.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Fourth & Walnut

  • Poet: Jeremy Over
  • Press: Carcanet Poetry

Fourth & Walnut caught my eye as its so different to anything else I’ve read for The Book Bag. This is experimental poetry at its best.

For starters, the last twenty odd pages is a blackout poem using an illustrated children’s book. Even its title ‘Yes & Yes’ derives from the original book. Surreal, subversive, clever and witty.

The book begins with the piece ‘Advice to a Young Poet’ where the writer name checks poets from Rilke to Blake and Thomas Merton delivering some tongue-in-cheek wisdom to the reader.

Thomas Merton has a large influence on the collection, appearing in several works, the book taking its name from Merton’s epiphany in Kentucky.

There are more recent pop culture references in ‘Reading In The Rain: An Essay’ which has a nod to one of my top 5 favourite active weather people, Tomasz Schafernaker and media legend Angela Ripon. In this piece there are poems within poems.

‘In The Middle of Things’ is an imagery-rich two-part piece that teems with emotional resonance and heart. A poem that makes you stop and reflect. Then return to read it again and again.

‘Equinox In A Box’ is a sprawling piece that takes place over a day could be a pamphlet in itself. Making use of multiple styles, images and wordplay. It makes the reader slow down, pause and engage with the piece. It was the perfect read after a challenging workday.

A key strength in the book is it’s shifts. Not just in theme and format but in rhythm and pace. Read the sequence on snowdrops within ‘Reading In The Rain: An Essay’. Sublime.

Nature is integral to the collection. Whether it be the animal kingdom from turtles to rhino to cows and birds, plant kingdom from lichen to cowslips or weather patterns. The range used is epic in scale but all works to produce great results.

Fourth & Walnut will appeal to all the surrealist lovers, fans of experimental contemporary writing and poetry readers looking to read something different. This is whimsical poetry, the type that makes you smile, ponder and relish.

Favourite Poem:

‘Yes &Yes’, ‘In The Middle Of Things’, ‘Reading In The Rain: An Essay’ including or the sub poems and ‘Equinox In A Box’.

Learn more about Jeremy Over here.

To buy Fourth & Walnut, click here.

You want a quirky playlist to companion this book? Well here it is…

Mika – Rain
Norah Jones – Come Away With Me
Etta James – A Sunday Kind of Love
Bob Dylan – Blowin’ In The Wind
John Coltrane – Equinox
Gregory Porter – Be Good
Smashing Pumpkins – Rhinoceros
Massive Attack – Teardrop
Radiohead – Present Tense
Arthur Alligood – 4th & Walnut

Before I Go…

There’s less than a week to submit ideas for the Christmas List which will be released on the last Sunday in November in place of the regular Book Bag. It’s a perfect way to share ideas and inspiration and boost your favourite poets and presses in time for the festive period. I’ve had some super entries so far. Full details here.

One More Thing…

I’m delighted to say that I am reading at Louise Longson’s Last Saturday Poets on Saturday 29th November. It’s a fantastic line-up and audience tickets are free and can be booked here.

And Another…

The submission window opens in 2 weeks for the Unwhispered Legacy anthology. Full details here.

And Finally…

Write Here, Right Now is taking place on Thursday (the final one of 2025). Our small writing group is a source of inspiration, knowledge and support. If you’re interested in joining, you can drop me a message. We are inclusive, supportive and anti-bigotry.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: TBD
  • Poet: TBD

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

Paul

The Book Bag: The Liminal Light Of The Night by Carmella de Keyser

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

I’ve had a great week. On Sunday just after sharing my thoughts on Merril D. Smith’s book, I saw two deer running just in front of my house, a doe and an infant. Then my wife and I did a spot of shopping and enjoyed a delicious pub lunch. On Monday we visited The Laing Art Gallery which currently has an exhibition on Miniature Landscapes including work from the original Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Excellent.

We also celebrated my Mother-In- Law’s birthday & retirement with a couple of meals and a delicious cake. Then everybody saw the wonderful full moon, Brody got extra walks just so I could gaze up.

The allotment is taking proper shape now. We have spread woodchip over most of the ground for pathways. This will enrich the ground which will enrich our produce. Also, we’ve planted our fruit bushes in the cage, including a black raspberry which I’m looking to try.

We took a lovely autumnal stroll on Friday, the trees providing a riot of colour.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

The Liminal Light Of The Night

  • Poet: Carmella de Keyser
  • Press: Hedgehog Poetry Press

Carmella is an incredible poet and human being. Her work always has a deep emotional value that connects with readers.

This prize-winning pamphlet is a combination of stellar poetry and stunning art. Each perfectly placed in order. The poems play out in that space between light and dark, the space where where life is really lived. The artwork has been carefully curated enhancing the terrific writing.

Emotion is at the forefront of poetry in this book. We look at grief in the poem ‘I Count All Things As Loss’ which is a memoir that takes you on an authentic journey, both rough and smooth. No line or image feels like a cliche in this piece. ‘The Everlasting Exile’ is another piece teeming with power and physicality which ends perfectly.

Imagery and metaphor play an integral role in the pamphlet. The poem ‘An Odyssey Through You’ is an exquisite piece (one of my favourites) that is inventive yet feels classic. ‘Dark-Haired Girl’ is a vivid, immersive piece using multi-sensory elements to fully bring to life the words from page into reality.

The language in the book is sublime and each piece has a formidable lyrical quality. Carmella’s use of free verse benefits the words on the page as does the rhyming structure achieved in the piece ‘Bury Me Deep’ which creates a river’s motion.

This is a wonderful collection of poetry complemented by artwork from Vanya Milanova that showcases the human condition. The vivid imagery and journeys these pieces take you on will appeal to many poetics. A real gem of a book.

Favourite Poem:

I’ll choose a few to accompany ‘An Odyssey Through You’ so let me add ‘To The Strangers’, ‘The Closure Of The Dark’ and ‘I Count All Things As Loss’.

To read more about Carmella, click here.

To buy The Liminal Light Of The Night, click here.

You’re looking for a playlist to read along to? Well I’ve curated a small selection of songs that I think work well with the pamphlet;

Bon Iver – Holocene
Joni Mitchell – Hejira
Nick Drake – River Man
Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
Train – Drops of Jupiter
Tom Petty – Learning To Fly
Tracy Chapman – Fast Car
Mumford & Sons – The Cave

Before I Go…

Black Bough Poetry are hosting one of their tremendously supportive open mics on Wednesday 12th November. Audience tickets are still available here.

One More Thing…

If you haven’t already caught up Rebecca Goss’s feature as The Book Bag: Bag: Poetic Voice for November, read it here. This is another poem being added on Wednesday so make sure to bookmark the post, so you don’t miss out.

And Another…

There’s less than two weeks to submit ideas for the festive period to The Book Bag’s Christmas List. This is a way to support favourite poets, presses and fellow poetics in sharing with the wider poetry community. Details here.

And Finally…

The tremendously talented Stephen Paul Wren is hosting an online reading of work from his recently released title with Parlyaree Press, ‘Blood Women’ on Thursday 13th November. Details and tickets here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Fourth & Walnut
  • Poet: Jeremy Over

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Held Inside The Folds Of Time by Merril D. Smith

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

Well, this has been a week. On Sunday, I attended the Black Bough open mic and read a couple of pieces. I then had a half day leave from work on Monday where we took Brody to the vets for a checkup and boosters. He’s healthy but he really doesn’t like the vets.

Yesterday, the excellent Full House Literary launched their new issue, which contains one of my poems. I’m beyond happy to share pages with incredible writers. Read the issue here.

I’ve also been lucky to announce the new Poetic Voice for November as Rebecca Goss. The feature is here and another poem will be added soon.

I did manage to send off a few submissions this week too.

It’s been Halloween; we didn’t get many trick-or-treaters and a couple we did have were in my opinion too old to be trick or treating. There were some great costumes including 2 inflatable dinosaurs. Also, I saw some excellent fireworks going off in the surrounding area. Brody likes staring out the back window watching the colours explode.

And at the allotment the fruit cage has been wired, the cold frame is ready and our green manure is growing well. There will be a big change next week though…

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Held Inside The Folds Of Time

  • Poet: Merril D. Smith
  • Press: Jane’s Studio Press

I’ve been a fan of Merril for a longtime, first reading her work on TopTweetTuesday some time ago. Not only is Merril a fantasy poet but is also very generous in her support to others, not just in poetry but in activism too. If you get the chance to hear her read, take it.

One of Merril’s key strengths is the ability to place so much emotion into her poetry. The pieces ‘To America’, an intimate and heartfelt poem and ‘May Morning’, a colourful landscape of sound are exquisite examples of this. ‘Sparrows’ is a breathtaking and heart-wrenching piece.

Merril is deft at crafting vivid poetry that immerses the reader in scenes that feel familiar. The poems ‘Cross-Quarter Days’ and ‘Topography’ are tremendous examples of this. One of my favourite pieces in the book ‘In Memoriam: for the Unknown Soldiers at Red Bank Battlefield’, stands out for imagery that connects multiple threads.

When Merril goes cosmic on scale in the pieces ‘Long Nights, The Stars Too Far’, ‘His Shirt’ and ‘All and After’ we are treated to wonderful interplay between scientific, delicate and romantic language.

There is a real sense of connection in the collection. This is across time and in various settings. The poem ‘Echoes’ is multi-sensory and highlights how sharing food can link people across generations. ‘Roads and Flights’ parallel the natural world and humanity and demonstrate how everything is linked.

In terms of styles, Merril makes use of free verse as well as different forms including a golden shovel in ‘That Time’, short form in ‘Daylilies’ and some ekphrasis in ‘Clasped and Cradled’ (inspired by recent Book Bag poet, Karen Pierce Gonzalez). But it’s not just poetry we are given in this book, but incredible photography taken by Merril herself. There’s also some lovely art within the pages.

This book has wide appeal, notably for the visceral, emotive and vivid poetry that lingers a while. If you want to feel a sense of connection, buy this book, if you like the thought of cosmic scale poetry that is epic and intimate simultaneously buy this book. Also, fans of photography will appreciate this book. A fantastic collection with pieces that cling to the mind like a fine November drizzle. A perfect gift for the festive season.

Favourite Poem:

I’ve already mentioned In Memoriam: for the Unknown Soldiers at Red Bank Battlefield’ but I’ve also got a few more to mention. I’ll add ‘At The Corner of First and Always’, ‘In Paris and Beyond’, ‘The Power of Gravity and Light’, ‘This Is Not—and Is’, ‘Letter From My Mom’ and ‘Horses’.

To find out more about Merril, her regular and very interesting blog is here.

To learn more about the press, click here.

To buy Held Inside The Folds Of Time, click here.

Oh, are you looking for a playlist to read along to? Well you’re in luck because I’ve curated an eclectic mix for you:

Coldplay – The Scientist
Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run
The Clash – London Calling
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra – Paris Blues
Edith Piaf – La Vie En Rose
Guns ‘N’ Roses – Civil War
Gil Scott-Heron – The Revolution Will Not be Televised
The Honey Drippers – Impeach The President
Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi
Stevie Nicks – Landslide
David Bowie – Space Oddity
Carole King – You’ve Got A Friend

Before I Go…
Issue five of The Storms Journal launched this past week. Merril is one of the poets to have work in it. I’ve been following the artist reveals on Instagram and it’s a stellar collection. I’m just waiting for my copy to arrive. Details here.

One More Thing…
You can help support poets and presses as well as provide gift ideas for fellow poetics by submitting to the The Book Bag Christmas List. Details here.

And Another…
Matthew M.C. Smith, EIC of Black Bough Poetry is hosting another of their Crafting Your Year In Poetry workshops on November 16th. 2025. I attended one of the workshops and it has really helped me to develop my practise. I along with others highly recommend it. Details here.

And Finally…
Just a reminder for all the poets, that the submission window for The Book Bag X Write Here, Right Now: Unwhispered Legacy Anthology opens at the end of the month, details here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: The Liminal Light Of The Night
  • Poet: Carmella De Keyser

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Poetic Voices – November 2025

November, here we are. The fiery palate outside makes me think this year is burning through time. Where did October go?

With a new month, comes a new Poetic Voice and I am beyond thrilled to be able to announce and welcome to The Book Bag, Rebecca Goss, a poet I have long regarded as exceptional, especially for her poetry of place. It was excellent to hear Rebecca receive much deserved mainstream recognition from Frank Skinner on his podcast a couple of months ago, listen here.

Image Credit: Natalie J Watts

Rebecca Goss is the author of four full-length collections. Her second collection, Her Birth, (Carcanet, 2013) was shortlisted for several prizes including the 2013 Forward Prize for Best Collection. She is the winner of the Sylvia Plath Prize 2022. Her latest collection Latch (Carcanet, 2023) was shortlisted for the Creative Suffolk Author Award, 2025. She works as a poetry mentor, and is a Writing for Life Fellow with the Royal Literary Fund, in NHS Recovery Colleges. She is current Poet in Residence for CW+, the official charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Follow Rebecca on Instagram @gosspoems

This month I will be sharing a few pieces from Rebecca’s collection, ‘Latch’ available to buy from Carcanet here which previously is a A London Review Bookshop Book of the Year and has been longlisted for the Longlisted for the New Angle Prize for Literature 2025. Carcanet have kindly provided rights for me to share images and poetry.

The first poem I will be sharing from Latch is ‘The Farm’

As promised, and graciously shared by Rebecca, this is ‘Weir’ from the collection ‘Latch’.

I want to thank Rebecca for sharing this bonus piece from ‘Latch’. This is one of my personal favourites in the collection and it is a real privilege to be able to share ‘The Hounds’.

Remember, you can here Frank Skinner discussing ‘Latch’ on his podcast here. You can buy ‘Latch’ here. It would make an excellent gift for poetry lovers.

Stay Poetic

Paul

The Book Bag: Wonderful by Harry Baker

Well the week started well and continued in the same vein. Sunday saw us head back to the allotment (and me saw down a rosemary tree that was starting to push onto the greenhouse) while the weather held off, then I attended the online launch of Merril D. Smith’s new collection, I signed a contract extension at work, saw some meteor action and I harvested our garden crop of Jack-be-little pumpkins.

I also found time to write what I think is one of my best pieces of the year, sent off a submission, and realised I’d lost edits my on a poem I really like. I’ve also started planning for 2026.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Wonderful

  • Poet: Harry Baker
  • Press: Burning Eye Books

Harry Baker feels like a poet who doesn’t need an introduction, a superstar poetry performer and previous champion of the World Poetry slam, with a huge following and profile who is a genuinely decent human being.

One of Harry’s superpowers is his ability to inject humour and heart into his poetry. The collection is filled with upbeat, warm and funny poems. I found myself smiling while reading pieces including ‘An Ode To Postcodes’ especially the line on NE1 (a Newcastle postcode) and ‘Things I Learned from Interrailing’.

The book balances the joy and happiness with reflections on serious matters. The poem, ‘Trying’ really hit me hard and in my opinion is such an important piece from a males perspective. Beneath the humour and metaphor, the book explores themes including masculinity in the piece ‘Wellies’ and coming to terms with mortality in the excellent ‘Sunflowers’.

Another of Harry’s strengths is his wordplay and punnery. One of my favourite poems of the collection, ‘Sticky Toffee Pudding’ does this incredibly well. As a performance poet, Harry can identify and incorporate language that will both work well with live audiences and on the page itself.

In terms of form, there are rhyme pieces, free verse, list poems and a few interesting styles, one that I had not encountered before which I may attempt. ‘As’ which is written with the Macao constraint, the poem ‘Ingrid’ (another of my favourites) is a univocalic using only the letter ‘I’. A very impressive piece.

The variety in this collection gives it a wide appeal to readers who are or aren’t already familiar with Harry Baker. If you like a poetry collection that makes you feel happy and warm inside, this is a book for you. If you like clever wordplay, this is a book for you. Wonderful is a charming, engaging book that brought me joy (I wrote that in the section of the book that allows you to record what brings you joy).

Favourite Poem:
I’ve mentioned ‘Sticky Toffee Pudding’ and ‘Ingrid’  as favourites already but I’ll also add in ‘Home’, ‘Trying’, ‘A Bed Shop Called Dreamland’ and ‘Wonderful’. To be fair the poems in this book are all exceptional.

If you want to learn more about Harry Baker click here. Also, I would recommend following his Instagram account.

You can buy Wonderful here.

Are you looking for the playlist? You are, aren’t you? Well, here it is, a happy eclectic mix to listen to alongside reading Wonderful.

Pharrell Williams – Happy
OutKast – Hey Ya
Len – Steal My Sunshine
The Cardigans – Lovefool
Björk – It’s Oh So Quiet
Eminem – Mockingbird
P!nk – Get The Party Started
Will Smith – Getting Jiggy With It
Taio Cruz – Dynamite
Michael Giacchino – Theme From Mission Impossible
Marcus Mumford & Tom Howe – Ted Lasso Theme

Before I Go…
There’s less than a week left to submit to After poetry. Details here. An excellent opportunity to be published on a highly respected platform.

One More Thing…
There’s still time to submit your gothic pieces to Broken Spine Art’s callout for an anthology being published in 2026. Details here.

And Another…
Remember to help boost your favourite poets and presses this festive season by sending over details for the Christmas Gifts Guide that will be published at the end of November. Details here.

And Another…
Ice Floe Press are now open for submissions until November 18th on the areas of Process / Marginalia / Otherworld. Full details here.

And Another…
A new Poetic Voice will be coming to The Book Bag from Saturday. Catch up with October’s Poetic Voice, the exceptional Carson Wolfe here.

And Finally…
I’m enjoying reading for Frazzled Lit, a reminder that the submission window is still open until Friday October 31st 2025. Details are here, send your best work.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Held Inside The Folds Of Time
  • Poet: Merril D. Smith

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

Paul

The Book Bag: A Wide River Divides Us By Gill Barr

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

It’s been a productive week in the allotment with strawberry runners being planted, the fruit cage being finalised and the cold frame started. Things are taking shape.

Last Sunday we went to Wallington, a National Trust property not far from Morpeth. It was a perfect day for a long autumn walk. We also got to take in the photography exhibition dotted throughout the East Wood. I may write an ekphrastic piece about one of the images. The below, I took on my phone. I think it sums up autumn in Northumberland.

My copy of Anarkiss Vol.9 arrived (I have 3 pieces in the zine) and it is filled with excellent art, poetry and essays. I’ve also done some planning and sent off a couple of submissions. I am thoroughly loving reading for Frazzled Lit, and have been lucky to read some terrific poetry.

At work, I’ve had some big news (good) and the intense spell has trailed off into a busy period of identifying and implementing improvements. I also got some really lovely feedback from a colleague that almost had me welling up.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

A Wide River Divides Us

  • Poet: Gill Barr
  • Press: Cinnamon Press


I first heard poems from this collection at an open mic over zoom and was captivated by Gill’s reading and the subject matter.

A Wide River Divides Us is a debut collection that examines the history of Derry/Londonderry during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. It is a compelling witness statement told from a narrative perspective beginning in childhood through to adulthood.  

Although there is danger in these pages, notably in pieces including ‘Soldier Doll’, ‘Why We Leave Cook Terrace’ and ‘Coleraine’ there is also a huge degree of resilience and community. This can be seen in the poems ‘Isolated Shooting Incident’ and ‘Keep Walking’. The retelling of events is handled is authentic, you can feel every word and emotion. You get all of Gill’s experience through vivid imagery that at times is startling including in ‘Claudy’ and ‘A Dance Lesson’ compared to ‘Delay’ which feels softer edged.

Nature is a recurring theme throughout the book and feels like both escape, outlet and sanctuary. The poem ‘Port Na-Garley’ is an exemplary piece describing a heron. In ‘On An Evening Gently Falling’ (one of my favourites) we are treated to rainfall described eloquently, almost dreamlike. The pieces ‘Talking To Each Other’ and ‘Line In The Sand’ are further examples of this.

A standout of this book apart from the wonderful poems is the language that Gill uses. The pieces, ‘Palmer’s Moon’ and ‘Veduta’ are perfect examples of this. We are also provided with a variety of different styles from the sprawling ‘They Came Out The Mist’ to the couplet structured ‘Magilligan Point’. The italicisation in ‘Privilege’ makes the piece feel important, immediate (read the notes on this poem at the end of the book).

I could write so much about this book because it is outstanding. The fact it is a debut is even more impressive.

This collection will appeal to readers who appreciate compelling witness accounts, eloquent language, effective imagery and human connection and poems that make you react and reflect. This is a book that provides a testimony of events from a city caught up in violent, political turmoil and is an important book especially with current climates. A Wide River Divides Us is in my top 10 of reads this year. This is striking poetry.

I’m not the only one who thinks so either. Gill collaborated with a young film-maker to to make a poem-film of the title poem and it has just been shortlisted for 13th O’Bheal International Poem-Film Festival in Cork taking place in November, details here.

Favourite Poem:

I’ve already mentioned ‘On An Evening Gently Falling’. Here are another seven in no particular order (I could name a good few more); ‘Lough Shore Nocturne’ ‘Seaside, Seesaws and Other Oscillations’, ‘Diogenes Got Up And Walked’, ‘A Wide River Divides Us’, ‘Mixed Signals’, ‘Night Promenade’ and ‘The Road To Shroove’.

To read more about Gill, click here.

To buy A Wide River Divides Us, click here.

Oh, you want a playlist to read along with the collection? Here you go…

Foy Vance – Guiding Light
U2 – Bad
The Undertones – It’s Going To Happen
Enya – Evening Falls
Paul Desmond – Emily
Dave Brubeck Quartet – Strange Meadow Lark
Kenny Wheeler – Kind Folk
CMAT – Stay For Something
Christy Moore – North & South Of The River
The Corrs – Runaway
The Cranberries – Dreams

Before I Go…

Did you catch my callout for Christmas Gifting Ideas? Help me put together a post that will help poetics with their gift giving while boosting poets and presses at the same time. Details here.

One More Thing…

Black Bough are hosting an open mic next Sunday. Always a warm and welcoming environment to share poems. Details here.

And Another…

The Book Bag Open Mic Sessions: Session 1 is on Sunday 9th November. Share your polished gems or roughcoat coals. The line up so far is excellent. Details of tickets here. Be quick, there’s only a handful of reader spots left. Or you can come along and enjoy being a member of the audience.

And Another…

The Eat The Storms Podcast has returned for a new season, episode 1 dropped last Sunday and is a great listen. Available where you get your pods, details here.

And Finally…

Remember, Frazzled Lit are still accepting works throughout October, for free. Read the submission guidelines here and send your best work.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Wonderful
  • Poet: Harry Baker

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Somewhere A Tree Waits For An Angel Or A Butterfly

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

It has been a busy week this week. I think all my hard work and schedule has caught up as my department starts to quieten down.

We planted the onion and shallot sets at the allotment and have been able to dig over the fruit cage thoroughly. All the raised beds are now ready for use. We’ve planted green manure too. Progress is steady.

My nephew turned 18 and we celebrated with food and drinks in Northumberland. I can’t believe where that time has gone.

In terms of poetry, I’ve had a great week. I found out that I was shortlisted in the Katrina Collins Poetry Prize and will appear in the anthology alongside incredible poets which is a huge honour. Congratulations to everyone else who was nominated and to the winners.

Also Write Here, Right Now happened on Thursday and was excellent as always. Did every attendee get played in on my saxophone? Yes! Several of the pieces I have worked on in group or had feedback on have been sent out for submissions and results are positive and I’m adding value to my writing.

I’ve also been able to read some pieces for Frazzled Lit Issue 4. There is lots of talent out there.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Somewhere a Tree Waits For An Angel Or A Butterfly

  • Poet: Eileen Carney Hulme
  • Press: Hedgehog Press

I’ve been lucky enough to speak with Eileen over social media for some time. Eileen has been very supportive of my own poetry and is a big advocate of The Book Bag. I’ve also shared pages in anthologies with Eileen and always look forward to reading her work. She is by all accounts lovely and sent me a handwritten note giving me the background behind the book.

Somewhere a Tree Waits For An Angel Or A Butterfly was published in 2024 by Hedgehog Press after winning the inaugural Crimson Spine competition. And, after reading the poems inside it’s hardly surprising.

Eileen’s strength is creating tremendous imagery that elevate the poems from the page into the mind. Pieces including ‘Choosing A Stone’ and ‘A Smudge of Love’ are great examples of this.

Place and memory play an integral role in the pamphlet. The poems ‘Reverberations’ and ‘Illusions’ (one of my favourites) both take readers to the beach evoking different emotions through lived experience. The piece ‘Afterlife’ is incredibly moving and full of love.

Eileen’s use of language is precise and sharp yet simultaneously soft and delicate. ‘Sweet Time’ demonstrates this impeccably with the form used adding an extra dimension to the piece. The piece ‘Damp Shaped Us’ is another exemplary poem.

This is a pamphlet that will appeal to readers who appreciate the journey that love can take you on. The imagery and language in this book is beautiful and poems last long in the heart, especially ‘Lovers’ and ‘Afterlife’. It would make a beautiful gift.

Favourite poem: I’ve already mentioned ‘Illusions’ and ‘Afterlife’. Here are another five; ‘Somewhere A Tree Waits For An Angel Or A Butterfly’, ‘Lovers’, ‘What’s Left Behind’, ‘If You Could Go Anywhere’ and ‘When You Wake’.

To find out more about Eileen click here.

To buy Somewhere A Tree Waits For An Angel Or A Butterfly, send Eileen a message here.

You didn’t think I’d forget the playlist did you? This is my eclectic selection to accompany the pamphlet:

Tina Turner – What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Sixpence None the Richer – Kiss Me
Semisonic – Secret Smile
Scarlet – Independent Lovesong
Queen – Somebody To Love
Chris Rea – The Beach
Oasis – Wonderwall
Sam Smith – Latch
James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover

Before I Go…

On Monday I’ll be sharing another piece from this month’s Poetic Voice, Carson Wolfe. If you haven’t read the feature yet, click here and bookmark.

One More Thing…

Louise Longson’s Last Saturday Poets is on 25th October 2025 and the line up is incredible. Tickets are free and the event starts at 7pm. Details here.

And Another…

With Christmas coming soon, I was thinking of doing a post about potential poetry book gifts people could buy for loved ones, friends and even for their work ‘Secret Santa’ however as something a little different, I’d love input from you all. I’ll be posting a link to the full details next weekend as to how you can be involved.

And Finally…

Atrium Poetry is open for a week long submission window from Monday 13th October 2025. Details will be available on their website from Monday. Send your work (read the submission guidelines first!).

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: A Wide River Divides Us
  • Poet: Gill Barr

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Why I Wear My Past To Work by Chris Campbell

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

I’ve probably asked this about 437 times this week, but how is it October?

I’ve had quite the rollercoaster this week. Sunday morning was spent at the allotment, making a bulb lasagne. Hopefully come spring, we’ll have some lovely pastels flowering. Fingers crossed! 

I also saw Newcastle get (undeservedly) beat by Arsenal. But then we bounced back with a Champions League win. It was also the 2nd anniversary of getting Brody. We celebrated by giving him toys and treats. Unfortunately, the weather put pay to our planned walk. 

Wednesday was the launch of this month’s Poetic Voice feature and I’m thrilled that Carson agreed to take part. If you’ve not read the first part already, catch up here. Thursday was National Poetry Day on the theme of ‘Play’. I shared a small piece on social media. I’ve also added it here with my TopTweetTuesday entry.

Also, this week I’ve sent off several submissions and had some good news. You may remember my poem ‘Laundry Day’ was accepted and published by Dust Poetry Magazine (link here), well I’m beside myself, because it has been nominated for a Best Of The Net award. I’d like to say thanks to Dust for trusting in my work and congratulations to all other nominees. 

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Why I Wear My Past To Work

  • Poet: Chris Campbell
  • Press: Parlyaree  Press


This is Chris Campbell’s second appearance in The Book Bag. He is back with a bang in Why I Wear My Past To Work, a collection that spans recovery from illness, family, relationships and life. There is definite evolution in this collection from All Island, No Sea. I was lucky to be part of his online launch a couple of weeks ago. If you get a chance to hear him read, take it. His voice carries real weight and emotion. 

One of Chris’ main strengths is his sharp observation. He can immerse a reader in a scene or situation that feels relatable rather than forced. Poems such as ‘Five Schoolboys Pick Pyracantha’, ‘The Sea Steals Our Picnic Blanket’, ‘The Meadow, Dugdale Avenue, 1993’ and ‘Revellers Howl In The Fine Hours’ excel in this vein. The piece ‘Cold Crooks By This Fire Pit’ made me think of ‘Hippy Green’ behind Old Eldon Square in Newcastle.

The pieces relating to Chris’s recovery are at times harrowing and at times funny. ‘Today I Can’t Speak’ is compact yet compelling. ‘In The Queue At Bristol Royal Infirmary’ is a darkly funny piece that is so relatable to anyone who’s spent time in an A&E and one of my favourites. Poems including ‘After Leaving The Ward’ and ‘Holed Up After Hunting For A Gift’ also highlight Chris’ spirit, resilience and the journey he has been on. In these pieces we are seeing Chris at his most vulnerable.

The pieces in this collection which address his relationship with his family are delicate and authentic. Poems including ‘Day Trip, 2000’, ‘You Are Here, Grandad, In This Mute Playpark’ (which left me in a flood of tears) and ‘Bin Workers Wake You’ are all perfect examples of this across a scale of emotion. ‘My Son Grows as I Regress’ is a tremendously thoughtful and moving piece.

Aside from family relationships, Chris connects with everyone, he is after all a genuinely decent human being. I must the poem ‘I Drown During An Awards Do As The Queen Dies’ where Chris confronts a former soldier who is spouting bigoted diatribe. The piece ‘How This Cuban Shop Serves Pachanga’ is a lovely poem on community full of sensory imagery. We need more Chris Campbell’s in the world.


In terms of form, Chris uses a variety throughout including couplets in ‘A Helping of Sand After University’, compared to the flow of single-versed ‘Our Date Night Will Be Ponchos In January’. In ‘I am The Man I Wanted To Be’ we are shown some neat, intricate internal rhyme along with honest introspection. I really enjoyed some of the surprising line breaks throughout the book especially in ‘There Is A Mortuary On The Horizon’.

This collection will appeal to poetry lovers who appreciate heartfelt poems from a masculine perspective that don’t border on cliche. Lovers of vivid imagery and sharp observations will appreciate the pieces throughout this book. These are poems to return to time and again, it feels like having a conversation with a friend who relishes family, friends and the small (and big) things in life. Also if you’re looking for gift inspiration for the forthcoming festivities, Why I Wear My Past to Work would make a great Christmas present. 

Favourite Poem:

I have several favourites in this collection. I’ve already mentioned ‘In The Queue At Bristol Royal Infirmary’ so I’ll stick to another five as I’m writing. ‘Who Gave Our Kid Glitter Stickers’, ‘You Play The Violin On Your Mum’s Birthday’, ‘Shove Your 3-for-2 Flyer’, ‘Let Me Breathe Apricots’ and ‘Why I Wear My Past To Work’. I must also give a special mention to ‘Egg Lamp’s Verdict’. Oh and ‘Ode To The Pruning Woman Eaten by Vines’ is pretty special too.

To learn more about Chris, click here. 

To buy Why I Wear My Past To Work click here.

And of course, it wouldn’t be The Book Bag without a playlist to accompany Chris’s collection, so here’s an eclectic selection to pair with the book…

Joni Mitchell – Both Sides Now
Florence & The Machine – Dog Days Are Over
Oasis – Songbird
Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
Miles Davis – Blue In Green
Yusuf Islam – Father & Son
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Three Little Birds
The Verve – Sonnet
Bill Withers – Lean On Me
Elton John – I’m Still Standing
Mumford & Sons – After The Storm
Portishead – Only You
Muddy Waters – Got My Mojo Working
Ralph Vaughan Williams – The Lark Ascending

Before I Go…

Frazzled Lit are open for free submissions throughout October. I am excited and honoured to be part of the reading panel which also includes Louise Machen and Val Roberts. Details and Guidelines here. Send your best work.

One More Thing…

Broken Spine Arts have another thematic callout for submissions, this time for gothic poetry to be included in ‘The Havisham Steps’ anthology. Details here.

And Another…

If you want to partake in a supportive and friendly open mic, The Book Bag Open Sessions: Session 1 is on Sunday 9th November between 7 & 9pm (UK Time), via zoom. Share polished gems or roughcut coals. Or sit back and enjoy as an audience member. Details here.

And Finally…

Mark Anthony Owen’s excellent ‘After…’ journal is open for submissions throughout October looking for ekphrastic / after pieces. Full details here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Somewhere A Tree Waits For An Angel Or A Butterfly
  • Poet: Eileen Carney Hulme

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

Paul