hallo, inspiration
Odd things, poems. Prone to turning up when you least expect them. Last Thursday I woke up on a tour bus as it pulled into Wembley Arena – I was busy earning a crust with the day job as a stage…
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READ MOREhallo, inspiration
and this…
is for those politicians and journalists
who will now sing the praises
of life spent in public service
selling out
Bit of a clickbait title, that. I haven’t taken up the offer of a well-paid role as writer of patriotic doggerel at Conservative Central Office – the offer hasn’t been made, to be fair, nor am I expecting it –…
better together
Several years ago, over a boozy pint or three (or possibly seven, ed) in the Lych Gate Tavern in Wolverhampton, Emma Purshouse, Dave Pitt and myself decided it might be fun to work together, collaborate on projects, take it in…
roar of the greasepaint
This past week I’ve done two poetry gigs – one ‘live’ on the Isle of Arran, and one online in Shrewsbury’s virtual twin – and really enjoyed them both. Which shouldn’t be a surprise, really, as I’ve always loved getting…
Stourbridge glass
Over the Easter weekend, I was working with fellow pandemonialist Emma Purshouse over at the newly-opened Stourbridge Glass Museum, writing poems on demand for visitors. I know some poets who’d rather lose their eye teeth than have to write under…
To make a glass butterfly
Start twenty-five years ago,
at least...
Prayer for the Rt Hon Member for New Forest West et al
And spare a thought
for those Conservative MPs
who will stand in the House
a fish rots
There’s a proud and wonderful tradition in poetry and song of sharing work which mocks our lords and masters. Work which is witty, and barbed, and furious, which climbs to the rooftops and shouts to the world that the emperor…
operation big dog
Back in October 2020, a musician called An Croenen got in touch to ask if she could put the words of my poem Fatima to music, and created something spellbindingly beautiful. Then someone else offered to make a video to…
15 Darlington St
when we finally get the keys to our kingdom– and it will be no easy thing, my brothers, my sisters,my friends, no quick and easy thing, this will be a story in itself –when we finally get the keys to…
one ring
Some people have a clear idea of where their lives are going to take them, draw up a detailed plan of how they’re going to get there, and set off. I’ve always had more of a distracted-by-the-shiny-new-things approach to the…