Tag: Double Dactyl

A Quick Look Back at 2024

MY POETRY YEAR

My focus last year has been on selecting, editing and ordering poems for a new collection, with the result that I have enough material for a cohesive and coherent body of work, a working title and an excellent editor. News about a publication date will come in due course. Meanwhile, look forward to themes of testing and challenge, survival and overcoming. Identifying, refining and scheduling poems that align with the themes has left me little inclination to submit poems for competitions and magazines this year but I have continued writing fresh work (how could a poet stop themselves from doing that?) and I’ve remained very active in attending and leading/co-leading workshops, as the Stanza Representative for Gloucestershire. Here are the highlights of my poetry year:

COMPETITIONS AND ANTHOLOGIES

My poem ‘Away from it all’ that was long-listed in The Yaffle Prize 2023, was published in the anthology ‘Whirlagust IV’ from Yaffle Press early in 2024. Congratulations to all the included in the book, especially the competition winning and commended poets, and a huge thank you to Mark and Gill Connors, and Mike Farren, for all their hard work running the competition and publishing the anthology. https://www.yafflepress.co.uk/anthologies

In February, I was delighted that my poem ‘Green Turtle’ was accepted for the ‘Ourselves in Rivers and Oceans’ anthology from The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press … a collection of poems from over 100 international writers reflecting the theme of water, with illustrations by Scottish artist, Colin Thom and cover by Mike Curry.  A big thank you to Claire Thom and the team for bringing the anthology to birth – copies are available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/840957442X

In April, I learnt that my prose poem ‘Brookside’ was among the commended in the Yaffle’s Nest competition. Congratulations to Ian Harker, Holly Bars and Jennifer A McGowan for coming 1st, 2nd and 3rd and another big thank you to Mark and  Gill Connors of Yaffle Press. Looking forward to the publication of the ‘What We Inherit From Water’ anthology from Yaffle Press in spring 2025.

POEMS IN MAGAZINES AND E-ZINES

In February I was thrilled to  have a poem ‘Either Or, Both And’ in Issue 34 of Prole Magazine, available here: https://prolebooks.co.uk/  This was the tenth of my poems the editors (Brett Evans and Phil Robertson) have accepted for the magazine, my first successful submission to them being in 2015. My thanks to them both.

In March, my double dactyl on Rachmaninov appeared on ‘Double Dactyl of the Week’ with huge thanks to Andy Jackson https://doubledactyls.wordpress.com/2024/03/02/double-dactyl-of-the-week-65/

It was sad to learn of the closure of ‘Visual Verse’ in early 2024 but in March I was delighted to learn that 21 of my poems that had, in recent years, been published on ‘Visual Verse’ had been added to the archive at Newcastle Centre for the literary Arts. You can read them all, and see the images that inspired the poems, here: https://visualverse.org/writers/sharon-larkin/

In January, my metaphysical poem ‘Summoned’ was included in the inaugural edition of ‘Picture Frame Poem’ https://pictureframepoem.wordpress.com/january-2024/ which I hoped would grow and develop into a successor for ‘Visual Verse’. Sadly, this remains the only edition of ‘Picture Frame Poem’ to date.

REVIEWS AND ENDORSEMENTS OF FELLOW-POETS’ WORK

Early in 2024, I wrote a review of the manuscript of Aaron Wright’s collection, ‘Poetry of the Slug’. Quotes from my review appear in the book which is available from Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/9yLDCzG

In April I was honoured to be asked to write a profile of poet Roger Turner, for inclusion in Issue 69 of ‘South Magazine’, also selecting twelve of his poems to highlight in the article. Sadly, ‘South Magazine’ is another poetry outlet that ceased publication in 2024.

In May I was invited by Helena Tibocha to review the manuscript and write a cover endorsement for the anthology ´Beyond’ from Winchcombe Poets: Helena Tibocha, Briony Smith, Chris Haslam, Tony Davies, Zoe Brooks … and Peter Firth. This is a vivid and powerful anthology, whose publication was timed to celebrate the life of Peter Firth. I was subsequently invited to the moving launch event at the chapel at Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, organized by Helena Tibocha. It included a piano performance, by Susy Firth, of poems by her father, and readings of other poems from the ‘Beyond’ anthology. https://helenatibocha.com/the-winchcombe-poets-1

In November I was delighted to be among many Cheltenham/Gloucester poets contributing poems for a book to be presented to Jennie Farley at a special event at The Langton shortly before Christmas. The anthology was curated by Kathy Alderman and Penny Howarth, and was published by Howard Timms. I was pleased to have two poems, ‘Gratitude’ and ‘Revuelta’ in the book, and to write a short paragraph of appreciation of Jennie as a poet and friend. It was a genuine pleasure to read ‘Gratitude’ for Jennie at the event.

MEMORABLE READINGS

A super launch of the Yaffle Press ‘Whirlagust IV’ anthology was held on Zoom in the third week of January. I was thrilled to be able to read my long-listed poem ‘Away from it all’ alongside prize-winning, commended and other listed poets. Thanks to Gill and Mark Connors for hosting such a pleasurable, professional yet relaxed, launch event.

In February I was pleased to attend the international Zoom launch of the anthology ‘Ourselves in Rivers and Oceans’ from The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. The event featured wonderful poems, wonderfully read, and well-hosted. It was great to ‘meet’ editors Claire Thom and Marc Brimble … and artist Colin Thom. Thanks again to them for selecting my poem ‘Green Turtle’

In November I was pleased to attend the Zoom launch of the joint-collection ‘The Where We Were’ by Mark and Gill Connors of Yaffle Press. The guest poets were Jenny Robb and Sandra Noel whose collections ‘Hear the World Explode’ and ‘Into the Under’ are published by Yaffle/Yaffle’s Nest. I was glad to be included in the open mic.

In December Yaffle Press hosted the Zoom launch of Kevin Reid’s collection ‘Held’ and Mandy Macdonald’s pamphlet ‘The Unreliability of Rainbows’. The event also featured Yaffle poets Bobbie Sparrow (collection ‘The Weight of Blood’) and CM John (pamphlet ‘Ungrateful Heirs’) and a wealth of open mic poets (glad to have been one of them). Thanks – again – to Gill and Mark Connors of Yaffle Press for bringing us such wonderful books and hosting such rich and enjoyable events as this one.

WORKSHOPS ORGANIZED AND LED

I continued  a member of Cheltenham Poetry Society, chaired by Roger Turner, attending monthly workshops in Cheltenham town centre with other poets ­– Michael Newman, David Ashbee, Stuart Nunn, Robin Gilbert, Sheila Spence, Nick Shephard, Dan Mountain and Nick Heap.

By February I had drafted the programme for Cheltenham Poetry Society’s 10th Annual Awayday writing retreat, booked for May. This was going to be another stimulating day of writing, with prompts to fire the imaginations of the 16 poets who had signed up. Last year, we had a new venue in mind – Bowden Hall, at Upton St Leonards. We loved our previous venue, Dumbleton Hall, but it was undergoing refurbishment and modernisation so that gave us an opportunity to try somewhere new. I subsequently visited the new location with Roger Turner, CPS Chairman, to check their offer, which was luxurious, with an ideal conference room, impressive dining room, lovely décor and a tempting menu for lunch and am/pm breaks. On 22 May, the Awayday was held at Bowden Hall. The four workshop sessions were shared between Roger and me – a full but enjoyable day, most of us coming away with three or more drafts to work on further.

From May onwards, I took over leadership of Bishops Cleeve Poetry Club, from the lovely and talented poet, Claire Thelwell.  I had already been going to these twice-monthly workshops, for over a year, at The Cleeve Bookshop which is owned and excellently run by Will Williams.  Many thanks to him for opening the shop after-hours for Poetry Club.  By September, Poetry Club began working through the Forward Poets Anthology for 2025. We’ll be reading poems and discussing them in terms of form and content. These are the kinds of workshops that really help poets maintain awareness of modern trends in themes and forms, inspiring and informing them when writing their own poems. By the end of the year, Poetry Club membership had grown to 15, with 8 – 10 attending on any given night. Each two-hour workshop is a bargain at only £3. Funds will be used to buy further anthologies to benefit the group.

By mid-year, Cheltenham Poetry Society and Bishops Cleeve Poetry Club were formally gathered under the umbrella of The Poetry Society’s Stanza network, with me as the Stanza Representative for Gloucestershire, while Roger Turner remains Chair of CPS.

WORKSHOPS ATTENDED

 For most of last year, I attended and thoroughly enjoyed, Yaffle’s ‘Wordship’ Zoom sessions with Gill and Mark Connors … a great way to spend a Saturday morning. Later in the year, I was very pleased to be able to begin more intensive/focused sessions via twice-monthly with Gill on Zoom, offering the opportunity to do some close editing of  poems.

 At Buzzwords in March, Angela France welcomed Martyn Crucefix as guest poet. As well as reading from his collection ‘Between a Drowning Man’ we were treated to readings from his translation/versioning of ancient Chinese texts. Martyn also led us in an inspiring workshop exploring the theme of ‘translation’, cleverly designed so that a knowledge of other languages wasn’t needed. It was great to catch up with lots of local poet friends reading at the open mic and to hear some new (to me) poets read. Thank you to Angela France for Buzzwords – Cheltenham’s longest-running and endlessly stimulating monthly poetry event – and thank you Martyn Crucefix for an evening of exceptional poetry and inspiration.

OTHER EVENTS ATTENDED

Another great benefit of having developed a great relationship with The Cleeve Bookshop has been the opportunity to attend talks and book-signings by novelists – such as Caroline Montague (who has connections with Burnt Norton House in the Cotswolds… made famous by T S Eliot in the first of the Four Quartets). Cleeve Bookshop’s Summer Party featured special guest Chris Haslam (a Winchcombe Poet).  In September, The Cleeve Bookshop held ‘In Conversation with Author Elizabeth Fremantle’ talking about her novel ‘Firebrand’ and the film adaptation starring Jude Law & Alicia Vikander. In late November, Cleeve Bookshop’s Christmas Party featured prolific author, Mandy Robotham. Thanks again to Will Williams for hosting such events in his splendid bookshop; it is a real asset to the community in Bishops Cleeve.

Towards the end of the year, I enjoyed Cryptic Crossword sessions led by Melanie Branton on Zoom, where I met some real crossword whizzes. I’m very much a novice at doing Cryptic Crosswords and am better at intuiting the answers than working out the clues pointing to the solution. But Melanie’s excellent hints and tips on Facebook over previous weeks/months, and the practice crosswords Melanie provides, ahead of the ‘real thing’, help a great deal. Melanie is very patient, encouraging and enthusiastic. I think I have a new hobby! Thank you, Melanie.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF 2024

Three short breaks in Wales last year included an unforgettable Tom Jones concert at Llangollen International Eisteddfod in July, thanks to our son David; a spring break in Powys, including a lovely visit to my cousins’ farm, with the treat of bottle-feeding orphaned lambs – thanks to Ruth and Ian; and an early autumn break to Ceredigion, renewing our relationship with Aberystwyth, Ynyslas and Dafydd ap Gwilym … and enjoying the wonderful mountain road back through mid-Wales, via Cwm Ystwyth and Cwm Elan.

The last time I did any painting (as opposed to decorating!) was at school, around the age of 13, so I’m not very good at it. However, I’ve enjoyed joining in the art club at church (Elim, Cheltenham) and was excited to have a painting in the group’s exhibition. Thanks to Rose Neal who leads the group; she is immensely talented, inspiring and encouraging. Thanks to all who worked hard behind the scenes to prepare the exhibition, and thanks to Pastor Roger Wyatt … for everything. Proceeds from paintings sold went to the very worthy cause of Cheltenham Food Bank, collocated with the Elim. Thanks also to the Repair Shop there which restored my Kenwood Chef mixer to full working condition (and is now assessing an antique clock I recently acquired!) Churches with ‘community spaces’ like this are invaluable; we, the ‘older demographic’ also enjoy coffee mornings and fish and chip suppers there!  A final thanks to Bean Baker for encouraging me with a ‘test run’ of a Biblically-based poetry workshop; this might be an area for further development in 2025.

Other hobbies and obsessions continue:

  • daily walks with cameras with my dear husband, majoring on landscapes and wildlife on the Glos/Worcs border;
  • keeping my Welsh language knowledge fresh via weekly Zoom class run by Learn Welsh Gwent, with excellent tutor Jonathan Parry;
  • joining a flourishing group of Welsh learners and speakers in a pub twice a month in Cheltenham, for a couple of hours of conversation and cwnmi da. Diolch i Steve, Julia, Ian, Jan, Anthony, Jo a mwy! These sessions make me hapus iawn!
  • working on other languages via Duolingo, exploring Swedish, Norwegian and Danish
    maintaining my ‘legendary’ status in French, Spanish, Italian, Latin, Welsh, Ukrainian and Russian; brushing up on German; extending my experience of Portuguese; and making (very) brief forays into other languages Thanks Duolingo!

In May, I took up a GP referral for sessions at the Nuffield Gym in Gloucester, especially designed for people with joint pain.  It has been an excellent programme which ran until November. I have now joined the gym and intend to improve my fitness further, once I have recovered from Christmas over-indulgence! Thanks to Jez who led the Joint Pain management sessions.

In June, I was figuratively transported (for a second time) to Andalucia thanks to the Daniel Martinez and Company performance at Cheltenham Ladies College.  I can’t put into words how thrilling it is to have the odd taste of Iberian fire and passion on a rainy summer evening in Britain!

FINALLY, REMEMBERING

In December, it was a great sadness to mark the sudden passing of Michael Newman, who was not only a dear friend-in-poetry, but foundational to the relaunch of Cheltenham Poetry Society last century, a former Chairman, and an indispensable and loyal member over many decades. He was also a regular performer every month at Poetry Café Refreshed. His many friends and fellow poets in the Cheltenham–Gloucester will agree that he was an inspiration and example to many of us in his quiet, faith-filled, nature-loving, music-loving, poetry-filled life. We will miss him terribly in this area, particularly, but his influence and love ripples out beyond this town and county, reaching South, as a regular in the magazine of that name, and a frequent name in Indigo Dreams’ ‘Reach’ and many more magazines, his fame spreading West to the shores of Ceredigion and his beloved Borth … then ‘wider, still, and wider’. I will miss him terribly in monthly workshops and local readings. They won’t be the same without Michael’s kindly presence there.

Poetry Thanks and Praise

A Gradual Return to Normality or Will Things Ever be the Same?

In 2022 social activities, and real-life poetry events, hesitated back into calendars. Meanwhile, streamed readings, podcasts, and workshops, Zoom launches and open mics continued to flourish … welcomed by poets who were, or are, less mobile, or for whom face-to-face meetings continued to be unwise or unappealing. The huge advantages of virtual events are well acknowledged: national and international audiences for poets’ work, greater diversity of input and output at workshops, and exposure to a much wider range of poetics and cultural traditions. It’s all about extended reach. For some, the climbing stats for Covid, flu and streptococcal infections, as 2022 drew to a close, encouraged another ‘retreat from real life’ … and on-line activities are continuing to save the day. Clearly, a hybrid approach to events is here to stay.

Now for my personalised list of thanks ­and praise for 2022.

Competitions

In March, I was thrilled to hear that I had won first place in the Dreich ‘Black Box’ competition, for which many thanks to Jack Caradoc of Dreich, and congratulations to all the commended and shortlisted poets. My prize arrived speedily and safely: a huge box of Dreich publications, and a book bag and pen, all in a splendid Black Box decked out with a super white bow. The icing on the cake was the ‘Black Box’ anthology of the winning and shortlisted poems, including my poem ‘Flight Recorder’. Black Box Anthology.

My next competition success was not a poetry prize, as such, but thanks to Intrigue and Mosaic in Stroud for the lovely fedora I won in a competition run by the shop. It might not have been a poem that won it for me, but it was carefully chosen, artfully arranged words! I’ll be wearing the hat to poetry gigs when I have the opportunity! Thanks to the lovely person in the shop who helped me to decide which colour to choose, and who took the in-store photo.  And thank you to my friend Sheila Macintyre who not only tipped me off about the competition but met me in Stroud in June for a super catch-up over lunch, after I’d picked up the prize.

Poems Published: in Anthologies, Magazines and On-line

My poem ‘Keyboard Warrior’ made it into the ‘At the Edge of all Storms’ anthology from Dreich in July. I loved the striking cover. Thanks again to Jack Caradoc, and to Cara L McKee. The anthology can be ordered here: At the Edge of all Storms

Five of my poems were published on-line in the ‘Lothlorien Poetry Journal’ in April. They can be read here Lothlorien Poetry Journal. A big thank you to editor Strider Marcus Jones, and thank you, especially, for the overwhelmingly positive words from in his confirming email. Such an enthusiastic and appreciative message from an editor is heartening and gladdening! Unusually for me, the poems all had a fantasy/sci-fi flavour: ‘Receiver’, ‘Reverie’, ‘In Transit’, ‘Visitations’ and ‘Managed Invasion’. Another thank you to Strider for including my work in Vol 11 of the Lothlorien Poetry Journal – ‘Windmills of the Mind’ – a beautiful book, with poems by many poets I admire, published in August, and available to purchase here: Lothlorien Poetry Journal Volume 11

Thanks to Robert Garnham for including my poem ‘Lent in a Time of Coronavirus’ on the ‘Spilling Cocoa Over Martin Amis’ website in April … a super platform for poetry that dares to be humorous, even in plague-ridden times! My poem can be read here: Spilling Cocoa

On a related (pandemic) theme, thanks to Ben Banyard in May 2022 for publishing my poem ‘Dawn Chorus, May 2020’ on-line in ‘Black Nore Review’. Read it here: Black Nore Review 

Thanks to Stewart Watkins for publishing another five Covid-related poems of mine in his ‘Pandemic Poets’ anthology in August. It’s full of powerful responses to the pandemic, and available to purchase here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B7QJPMR8/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i3

In October, I was pleased to find that I had a couple of clerihews in the second volume from Smokestack Books ‘More Bloody Clerihews’ – thanks to Andy Jackson and George Szirtes.  This has now joined Volume 1, ‘The Call of the Clerihew’ (2019) on my bookshelf (where a handful of mine previously found a home). The latest volume is available to purchase here: More Bloody Clerihews

Thanks, again to Andy Jackson, for publishing my offering entitled ‘Tolstoy’ for week 2 of his Double Dactyl website Double Dactyl of the Week on 24 October.  I love this form, and will be writing more.

Many, many thanks to Gill Connors and Rebecca Jane Bilkau of Dragon Yaffle for including my poem ‘Elementary Inventory’ in the anthology ‘Up the Duff’ published in November.  I am very grateful for the inclusion of this poem which is a particularly important one for me personally. Thank you both for all your hard work on the publication of this book, and congratulations to all the other contributing poets.

As a photographer, I find that many of my poems originate from a visual stimulus, so I’m always very happy to have a visual prompt every month from Visual Verse … and happier still when one of my poems is selected for the website, along with those of many poetry friends, including Angi Holden and Finola Scott to name just two. Thanks to Visual Verse for providing these stimulating challenges every month and thanks to the editors for including the following poems of mine on the website during 2022:

‘You will go down to the sea again’ January 2022 You-will-go-down-to-the-sea-again/

‘Down the Tubes’ June 2022 down-the-tubes/

‘First Class Mail’ November 2022 first-class-mail

Another of my poems ‘An Egyptologist’s Funeral Plan’ is scheduled for publication in the forthcoming ‘Gods and Monsters’ edition of ‘Here Comes Everyone Gods and Monsters issue’

Translation

I am always delighted when I manage to merge my love of Wales and Cymraeg with my love of poetry. An opportunity came as a result of being contacted in 2021 by Nicky and Elin of Ennyn, a community-centred, arts-based company based in Ceredigion, delivering bilingual educational workshops in schools and other communities. They commissioned singer Owen Shiers to sing the poem ‘Y Border Bach’ by William Williams (Crwys) and I had previously translated the same poem which Ennyn tracked down to my website: another-crwys-poem-translated. In 2022 my translation appeared on the Ennyn website for their Dolau Dyfi project, alongside a beautiful recording of Owen Shiers singing the song yn Gymraeg, and lovely photos of the singer! https://www.ennyncymru.com/owenshiersdolaudyfi

Of all the things I do in poetry, this has to be high on the list of things I’m most proud of being involved with, not least because Ennyn is based in Ceredigion, very much the land of my forefathers.

Reading at Events

Thanks to Veronica Aaronson for not only including a couple of my poems in the ‘Despite Knowing’ anthology in 2021, but for including me in the readers for the associated event at Teignmouth Poetry’s Mini Festival in May 2022. I have huge appreciation for Veronica’s vision for the anthology, and her hard work in curating and editing the poems and seeing the project through to publication. It was good to meet Veronica at the event and also to connect with other readers and participating poets at the festival, including Rosie Jackson and Hélène Demetriades (an opportunity for me to buy signed copies of their books!)  It was also good to catch up with other poet friends, particularly Simon Williams, Tom Sastray, Rachael Clyne and Hannah Linden.  I was honoured to read the poem ‘One Day Clean, and Counting’ by Hannah Stone during the festival, and my own poem ‘At the Apple Orchard Clinic for Eating Disorders’.  Much appreciation to all the poets and organizers of this lovely festival. Poetry Teignmouth Festival 2022

Thanks to Sarah L Dixon for her hard work on the Quiet Compere tour, 2022.  Her planning began early and was thorough and well-detailed; I learnt as early as February that I would be included later in the year, on one of the virtual sessions … and this came to fruition in August when I took part in one of the Zoom editions of the Quiet Compere. quiet-compere-stop-6-zoom

Much appreciation to Sarah for her multi-venue, in-real-life and virtual tour, throughout a demanding year, including a new full-time job … and being a fantastic Mum to Frank.

Collaborations: Running Workshops, Editing and Publishing

My long-standing association with Cheltenham Poetry Society sprung to life again, after a two-year pandemic hiatus, with the Awayday in May – day-long writing retreat at Dumbleton Hall. This was the eighth CPS Awayday, which had been annual event pre-pandemic. As always, I enjoyed working with CPS Chairman, Roger Turner, on the design and content of the day’s workshops on the theme of ‘The Elements’. The material included projected images, sound recordings and the text of poems by a variety of poets including Simon Armitage, Sylvia Plath, Philip Gross, Nigel McLoughlin, Rebecca Gethin and Holly Bars. We are delighted to have received 100% satisfied feedback from the attending poets after the Awayday, confirming that the workshops had helped with their writing and that they would like to do something similar in 2023.  We must thank staff at Dumbleton Hall for another memorable Awayday, particularly Emily, the events coordinator. Dumbleton Hall

Over the summer, Roger and I co-selected and edited poems submitted by the Awayday poets, for inclusion in an anthology of poems and photographs on themes of earth, air, fire and water. ‘The Elements’ was published in November, as a joint Cheltenham Poetry Society and Gloucestershire Stanza venture, by my outfit, Eithon Bridge Publications. Thanks go to all of the poets attending the Awayday and submitting excellent poems for the anthology: Robin Gilbert, Iris Anne Lewis, Penny Howarth, Christine Griffin, Belinda Rimmer, Gill Garrett, Annie Ellis, Sheila Spence, Penny Lamport, Catherine Baker, Gill Wyatt, Alice Ross, David Ashbee, Michael Newman, Stuart Nunn, and of course Roger. Particular thanks go also to Kevin Woodward of Wheatley Printers Wheatley Printers in Stroud, Gloucestershire, who patiently worked with Roger and me through the process of setting the text, positioning photographs, finalising the cover design, and then the printing and finishing of the book. We were delighted with the resulting volume of 59 poems by 17 poets, and over 30 photographs. Thanks are also due to David Clarke and Rona Laycock who were generous in their words of endorsement for the cover, and additional words to help us publicise the book which can be purchased through Eithon Bridge Publications: Eithon Bridge The Elements.  Below are some photos of the poets with their copies.

Attending Workshops

It was also good to reconvene during the second half of the year for monthly meetings of the CPS Writing Group. Thanks to chairman Roger Turner’s securing of a new venue, and thanks to all the Writing Group members for their helpful critiques and fine poems: Roger Turner, Michael Newman, David Ashbee, Stuart Nunn, Robin Gilbert, Sheila Spence and Gill Wyatt.

Later in the year, I was pleased to join a new fortnightly face-to-face group, Cleeve Poetry Writing Club, led by Claire Thelwell.  Many thanks to her for her enthusiasm and commitment, and also especial thanks to Will Williams of The Cleeve Bookshop for allowing us to meet in his wonderful bookshop after hours.  It’s the perfect venue, and a lovely group of poets.  Thanks too to Jo Bell … again … since we are drawing on her book ‘52: Write a Poem a Week. Start Now. Keep Going’ (Nine Arches, 2015). I think this is the fourth time I have been drawn back to 52, after its ground-breaking initial run by Jo back in 2014.  It is a timeless source of inspiration, available from the publisher: 52 at Nine Arches

In 2021 I began attending Mark Connors’ and Gill Lambert’s (now Connors!) Wednesday Wordship sessions on Zoom … and these continued through 2022. A previous blog post records my gratitude to them for all the good things that I have experienced personally from this dynamic poetry duo.  Thanks to Yaffle

Assisting in a Competition

Not only did my ‘oeuvre’ grow by some twenty poems during the Wednesday WordshIp workshops, but I was honoured to be asked by Mark and Gill to offer my opinion on the short-listed poems in the 2022 Yaffle Competition, and to put them in order of the Top Ten, as I saw them. There was such a high standard that it was a challenge putting the ten poems in order of perceived merit. Having done so, I was delighted to learn subsequently that my recommendations aligned very closely with Mark’s and Gill’s own assessment – particularly in identifying the winning and commended poems. I was delighted that Mark and Gill used some of my comments on the poems in announcing the results. Yaffle Competition Results Congratulations to all the long-listed, short-listed, commended and highly commended poets and especially to winners Sue Burge (first), Ian Harker (second) and Holly Bars (third). And am pleased that one of my own Wednesday Wordship poems ‘You Knit’ will be included on an ‘honorary’ basis  in the Whirlagust III prizewinners anthology. Thanks again to Mark and Gill Connors for an excellent poetry year.

Reviews, Written and Received

Another result of the collaboration with Mark and Gill was that I was asked by fellow Wordshipper, Holly Bars, to review, and write a cover endorsement for her debut collection ‘Dirty’ from Yaffle Press, launched in November and on sale here: Dirty It was a privilege to get to know Holly through Mark and Gill’s Wednesday Wordship sessions on Zoom in 2021/22, and an honour to be asked to write a response to her astonishing debut collection. Holly is definitely a poet to watch.

In August I was delighted to receive a 5 Star review on Amazon for my collection ‘Dualities’ (Hedgehog Press 2020):  ‘Skilful poetry, a delightful collection of accomplished writing.’  Thanks to Ozymandias!

Finally, a big thank you to South Poetry Magazine South Magazine and especially Anne Peterson for the positive review of the ‘Inspired by Music’ anthology of poems and photographs edited by Roger Turner and me, and published on behalf of Cheltenham Poetry Society by Eithon Bridge Publications in November 2021. The review appeared in issue 66 of South Magazine in October 2022. The idea for an anthology inspired by music came from a desire for a project, for CPS poets, during the hiatus between the 2019 and 2022 Awayday writing retreats. The positive review for this anthology was most welcome! ‘Inspired by Music’ can be purchased through Eithon Bridge Publications: Eithon Bridge anthologies

Looking Forward

Overall, 2022 felt like a year of slowly getting back to something approaching ‘normal’ … whatever ‘normal’ is nowadays, but I hope 2023 will begin to feel like a leap forward, a change of gear, an acceleration towards goals still unfulfilled!

A happy, productive and successful 2023 to all poets, everywhere … and good health and prosperity to all people, wherever they happen to be.