Poetry Space editor and poet, Susan Jane Sims has been awarded a prestigious Hawthornden Fellowship for 2018. She will spend four weeks in January living in a castle near Edinburgh along with five other writers.

“Looking forward to reading all the poems, and really hoping for the kind of poem that is deeply felt, that touches the heart, and to which the only possible response is Oh how wonderful and I wish I’d written it! ” – Gill McEvoy
 

A beautiful poem to listen to. Enjoy.

Full results from Poetry Space Competition 2017 and the top three winning poems. Congratulations to Carole Bromley (1st and 2nd prize), Eileen Carney Hulme (2nd prize) and all commended poets. Thanks to all who entered.

Poems inspired by Mark and his story.

Poetry events coming up in Wiltshire

Think of a subject, it could be oranges. Why not? That is as good as anything else. This past fortnight poets have been pondering ‘not poems’.

Lizzie Ballagher reviews two Poetry Space titles: What the Trees Are Telling Me by Elizabeth Rapp and Chester City Walls by Julia D. McGuinness

Poetry Space editor, Susan Jane Sims reviews A Fury of Yellow by Robin Thomas (Eyewear Aviator Series 2016)

Poetry Space poet, Maureen Weldon was delighted to have her poem “Sink, And The Great House, North Wales,” included in Crannog, Spring Issue 41, 2016.

All the winning and commended poems in the 2015 competition brought together in a beautiful anthology.

If you have not yet read Standing by the Wayside, by Prem Kumari Srivastava, this is definitely one to consider from the Poetry Space collection. Published during 2015 this is a collection that was a delight to work on.   I have just had this lovely comment from Moira Andrew who has just read this collection: Prem’s • Read more…

Thomas McColl. Being With Me Will Help You Learn . London, UK: Listen Softly London, 2015. A few weeks ago I was sent a copy Being With Me Will Help You Learn by Thomas McColl and it has accompanied me on my travels up and down to London recently on the train. There is quite • Read more…

Actor and poet, Jade Anouka’s first pamphlet collection was published on Valentine’s Day.

Publisher: Green Bottle Press (July 1, 2015 ISBN-13: 978-1910804001 Jill Munro’s Man from La Paz, made perfect train travel reading recently on one of my many trips to and from London. I love its physical and sensual exuberance, and willingness to tackle the everyday aspects of life with humour and unflinching gaze.   I never start on • Read more…

A brand new pamphlet collection from Margaret Eddershaw in support of Ibba Girls School in South Sudan. “This lively and witty collection shows that Margaret is a traveller who, in the tradition of great poets, has an extraordinary gift for finding a visual image or a spoken phrase which somehow conjures up a person, a place, a culture, a moment in time.” (John Bennington)
ALL PROCEEDS TO IBBA GIRLS SCHOOL

Wendy Stern died earlier this year. This pamphlet contains a selection of her poems, dictated to her carers as she did not have the physical capacity to use a pen or a keyboard. The poems are uplifting, hopeful and accepting. Two poems, not in this selection will appear later in the 2016 competition anthology as they were commended by John Siddique.

A review of Bath Poetry Cafe’s performance of poetry from the First World War in The Elwin Room, Bath Literary and Scientific Institute.

This is a fourth collection by Elizabeth Rapp.

This beautifully illustrated collection is by Julia D. McGuiness who lives in Ellesmere Poet, Cheshire. Julia has written four books and this is her first collection of poetry.

The judging is now complete and thanks are due to John Siddique for doing a wonderful job and all of the poets who entered and supported the competition this year.   Top three poets are: Ama Bolton, Corin Greaves and Victoria Gatehouse. Please go to Poetry Space Competition  for the full results.

Lizzie Ballagher, poet- in- residence on the South Downs Way

Recommend some summer reading from the Poetry Space collection and earn yourself a free book!

Tomasz Niedokos reviews London Manuscript by Anna Maria Mickiewicz

A new photograph to respond to.This week it is by Chris Sims.

For Robert Frost’s birthday – March 26th 1874 a chance to read or revisit Mending Wall, a poem written by Frost in 1942.

Celebration and Curiosity – Joan Poulson. Learn about Joan’s love of the natural world and her debt to “Granfer”.

Another in our occasional Meet the Photographers series when we get to know a bit more about photographers who have allowed us to use their lovely photographs as inspiration for some equally stunning writing.

Poetry Space review’s Annemarie Cooper’s new collection The Flight of Birds.

Beverley Ferguson, winner of the first Poetry Space Competition in 2010, considers the transformative role of poetry in her life

The first of a series of features on the photographers who have kindly let us put their poems on display as a visual stimulus for our poetry writing.

Landscape and Memory: A review of Geraldine Green’s Salt Road

Tikki Tikki Man by Caroline Carver ISBN 978-0-9568969-4-0 Published by Ward Wood Publishing    Reviewed by Susan Jane Sims   – even weeds are stronger than I am – she says – I’m not like them I don’t want to push through concrete I don’t want to find the light   Tikki Tikki Man, p.23 • Read more…

Dannie Abse celebrates his ninetieth birthday this week and says that his latest work might be his last.

Poetry Space International Poetry Competition reaches the age of five in 2014 and will be judged by poet and broadcaster, Alison Brackenbury.

Sue reviews Intensive Care by John Hirst

Some responses to Jo Waterworth’s collection: My Father Speaks in Poetry Too.

Glastonbury book launch for Jo Waterworth

Sumnmer Showcase – poems by Neil Leadbeater, Moira Andrew, Antony Johae and Wendy French. Chosen by Margaret Eddershaw.

Eleanor Bennett, editor of our Young Persons writers and Artists Space here at Poetry Space has been named as the Young Environmental Photographer of the Year.

Poetry Space supporter Jo Shaffer has just published her own collection of poems as an e-book on kindle: Every Day May Not Be Good, But There Is Something Good In Every Day is a collection of original poems by Jo Shaffer that cover a range of topics, often in a light hearted, fun way. From • Read more…

Voices in the City – a free day of poetry at Bath Central Library with 28 poets from Bath, Bristol and surrounding areas.

Poetry Spacer, Di Coffey walks away with two prizes for her poetry.

As we approach the end of 2012 I would like once again to thank you all for the wonderful support Poetry Space has had this year. The Online showcase has been brimming over with poignant, interesting and imaginative poems from all over the world. As you may know each quarter I ask a guest editor • Read more…

‘Surreal, serious and seriously funny’ Poetry Space launches Once Bitten at The Poetry Cafe, Covent Garden, London