Inspiration – Graham Parker's Poetry

Sheenagh Pugh

Sheenagh Pugh is a poet and novelist originally from Wales, now living in Shetland. I found her in the BBC book, The Nation’s Favourite Poems of Journeys where you can find the poem below – I was in Derbyshire at the time, but you could be anywhere you like when you read it. It hasContinue reading “Sheenagh Pugh”

Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge

I discovered Susan last year and I’ve found her, well, this book of hers, to be a major inspiration. It’s full of annecdotes and stories that with the deftest of touches, ignite something in the mind; it’s like fuel for a poet’s coal-fired hearth. I take her to bed with me, read one or twoContinue reading “Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge”

NaPoWriMo 2021

So, I completed my first full NaPoWriMo, and what an amazing ride it was too. I’ve been introduced to some amazingly inspiring poets through the prompts and the featured works each day. I feel like I have learnt so much, have so much more to learn but now have a raft of material with whichContinue reading “NaPoWriMo 2021”

Attila the Stockbroker

Shouty, loud, anarchic and brilliant – I could go on casting adjectives around till the sun goes down when asked about Attila. His ability to blend biting sarcasm with right on the edge humour to get over his left-wing political rantings has always had me in awe of the man. Like LKJ and JCC, IContinue reading “Attila the Stockbroker”

Dr. John Cooper Clarke

For anyone who was nurtured by the punk revolution, as was I, the initials JCC are inextricably linked with the high priest of punk poetry. Along with LKJ and Attila the Stockbroker, he made poetry for me, a contemporary art form. His crazy take on life, fused with salient points about the then desperate stateContinue reading “Dr. John Cooper Clarke”

Linton Kwesi Johnson

Linton is one of a triumvirate of poets that opened my eyes to poetry and made me see that it was not all Keats, Shelley, and Byron and that it could connect and resonate with me. In his case, he was aided by the fact that he put his poetry to a dub reggae backingContinue reading “Linton Kwesi Johnson”

Buddy Wakefield

I saw Buddy perform a few years ago at the Old Picture House in Sheffield, he was supporting Roger McGough and he totally blew me away. I’ve never witnessed a physical embodiment of the reading of a poem quite like it. His words combined with his physique to enhance every word and utterance which leftContinue reading “Buddy Wakefield”

Donald Hall, 1928 – 2018

I came across Donald’s work thanks to a suggestion from another poet, the mysterious and highly talented Miss Swiss, whose wonderful blog is entitled Yodel Yodel I had not heard of Donald before, which is a bit remiss of me seeing as he was the 14th US Poet Laureate, but I instantly liked him, hisContinue reading “Donald Hall, 1928 – 2018”