Hannah Sullivan”s “Three Poems” and Richard Eyre’s “Place to Place” deftly and often movingly utilize poetry for autobiographies.
Donald Hall and Andrew Motion Write Poetic Memoirs
I’m not sure why I first started reading memoirs by major poetic figures, but I recently read two that struck me as particularly significant in the development and history of what we consider contemporary poetry.
Poets and Poems: Louis MacNeice and “Autumn Journal”
Published in the spring of 1939, “Autumn Journal” by poet Louis MacNeice captured the spirit of the era – and the change coming.
Epigrams and Epitaphs: Martin Armstrong and “Fifty-Four Conceits”
“Fifty-Four Conceits,” published by Martin Armstrong in 1933, is a collection of epitaphs and epigrams that still have meaning.
The Poetry Chapbooks of Red Ceilings Press
Red Ceilings Press publishes small, beautiful poetry chapbooks by UK-resident authors and free eBook chapbooks by others.
Poets and Poems: Rowan Evans and “A Method, A Path”
In “A Method, A Path,” British poet Rowan Evans points to the music in poetry, and to the poetry in music.
British Poet Laureate Simon Armitage Writes Song Lyrics
In “Never Good with Horses,” British Poet Laureate Simon Armitage publishes a collection of song lyrics that blur the difference between poem and song.
Poets and Poems: Ben Okri and “A Fire in My Head”
“A Fire in My Head: Poems for the Dawn” by Ben Okri offers hope even for the darkest of subjects and events.
Poet Matthew Hollis Writes a Biography of “The Waste Land”
In “The Waste Land: A Biography of a Poem,” poet Matthew Hollis tells the story of how T.S. Eliot’s poem came to be.
Poets and Poems: Paul Brookes and “As FolkTaleTeller”
“As FolkTaleTeller,” the new poetry chapbook by Paul Brookes, includes 33 poems that tell the stories of English folk tales.
Poets and Poems: Simon Armitage and “The Owl and the Nightingale”
British Poet Laureate Simon Armitage has translated the medieval poem “The Owl and the Nightingale,” and it sounds rather familiar.
Poets and Poems: Robert Selby and “The Coming-Down Time”
“The Coming-Down Time” by poet Robert Selby tells stories in danger of being forgotten, stories of family, friends, and the past.
Dickens and the World in 1851: “The Turning Point” by Robert Douglas-Fairhurst
“The Turning Point” by Robert Douglas-Fairhurst tells the story of Charles Dickens in 1851, between “David Copperfield” and “Bleak House.”
Poets and Poems: Arran James Grant and “Mania”
“Mania,” the first poetry volume published by Arran James Grant, could well be desscribed as a coming-of-age poetry collection.
James Sale and “HellWard” – Writing an Epic Poem in English
Few poets would attempt what James Sale is doing — writing an epic poem in English inspired by Dante’s “The Divine Comedy.”
When Your Phone Dies: “A Hurricane in My Head” by Matt Abbott
In “A Hurricane in My Head,” Poet Matt Abbott has a suggestion for what to do when your young teen’s phone dies.
Paul Brookes – A Poetry Champion Who Writes Poetry
Paul Brookes not only writes poetry; he is also a champion for poetry, recognizing and celebrating poets worldwide.
Remembering and Honoring a Father: Laurence Fuller and “Modern Art”
“Modern Art,” a screenplay by Laurence Fuller, tells the story of his father, British art critic, writer, and author Peter Fuller.
Poets and Poems: Jessica De Guyat and “Fording the Stream”
The poetry collection “Fording the Stream” by British poet Jessica De Guyat is centered in the idea of place, be it Lindisfarne, Iona, or the French Midi.
It Was a Marvelous Year: “The Making of Poetry” by Adam Nicholson
In “The Making of Poetry,” Adam Nicolson tells the story of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1797-98, when they created some of the greatest poetry written in the English language.