Poetry and your legacy
“What will survive of us is love,” writes the famously cynical Philip Larkin in “An Arundel Tomb.” This one line of poetry has always resonated with me. What survives of us is the networks and [...]
Poetry and your future
Do you see yourself as a poet? Many of us will not achieve international fame as poets, nor be able to make a living entirely from our writing. But if you’re a poet-and-you-know-it, then [...]
Poetry and identity
A while ago, I overheard someone say that they didn’t have a “cool identity”. They listed a few things they felt might make their identity cooler, like being a vegan, being a DJ or being gay (I [...]
Poetry and telling your story
Everybody- everybody– has a story to tell. You need only look at the popularity of something like Humans of New York (in which anonymous, random people on the street are encouraged to [...]
poetry and the now
Poetry and the Now What does “the now” mean, and how can an understanding of it help with your poetry? Living in the now means being fully present in the moment, without dwelling on the [...]
Poetry and memory
A few years ago I was asked to run a short series of poetry workshops for older people in supported accommodation. I had never done anything like it and felt quite nervous- what theme could I [...]