Sorry, it’s been a while. Been busy, innit, redesigning my other website and things like that. Lots of interesting reading material of late, mind. * Finished Ian McEwen’s post-9/11 novel Saturday. Outstanding. I don’t think I’ve ever broken out into a sweat reading a novel before. Heart-pumping stuff. Suicide Bridge by Iain Sinclair –Continue reading “Latest reading and cultural activities”
Tag Archives: poetry
Charm Offensive
I would like to recommend a new artists’ journal entitled Charm Offensive. Volume One contains a poem of mine, ‘Tina is a Rottweiler’, new writing by Edward Larrikin, Jonnie Fielding and Barnaby Tidman, and illustration/design by a number of very talented visual artists. Charm Offensive is beautifully produced, something to get your hands on if you can.Continue reading “Charm Offensive”
Newborn
Being but men, we walked into the trees Afraid, letting our syllables be soft For fear of waking the rooks, For fear of coming Noiselessly into a world of wings and cries. Dylan Thomas Birth is a kind of entrance. But how fast the river seems. Faces turn to greet the moon. You walkContinue reading “Newborn”
New Bishopsgate poems online
A selection of poems written during my residency at Bishopsgate Institute are currently on display in the building. They are also online here, with explanatory notes. The poems are: The Archive Wake Up Lazarus The Coder Queer things in Egypt The Blackpool Mile Mr Bradlaugh’s Fishing Tackle Bishopsgate, in elevation Bishopsgate, from Bishops Square MrContinue reading “New Bishopsgate poems online”
Featured in the East London Advertiser
Fame at last! The East London Advertiser have published today a full-page article about my residency at the Bishopsgate Institute. The article, by Victoria Huntley, includes two poems, ‘The Archive’ and ‘Queer Things in Egypt’. Here’s the clipping (also online at the Advertiser’s website). Snappy title, eh?
‘How to Build a City’ published in The Edgeless Shape
Most excellent literary magazine The Edgeless Shape (‘a collection of new words and pictures’) has published my longish piece ‘How to Build a City’ as an A2 poster pull-out. Perfect for framing, or at least blu-tacking to the wall / any wall. It’s a kind of poem/essay/travelogue hybrid, set in and around Liverpool Street Station. The posterContinue reading “‘How to Build a City’ published in The Edgeless Shape”
Poetry on demand
Easier said than done, this commissioned writing lark. I’m used to letting language lead the way in a spontaneous, organic fashion; the ‘poetry on demand’ approach is trickier and demands a lot of patience, although it is, to a degree, time-limited. I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to come up with in my residencyContinue reading “Poetry on demand”
“Black Panther” and Ackerman’s Microcosm, &c.
Today was a good day. First, a meeting with the lovely Will Carr, Director of The Poetry School. Swanky little office in Lambeth Walk, shared with Poetry London (for whom I’ve just written three reviews) and two doors down from Spread the Word. A literary enclave, sort of. Will recently moved down to LondonContinue reading ““Black Panther” and Ackerman’s Microcosm, &c.”
Future Love
A kind of folly this: girl walks by, cloth bag hooked over polka-dot arm. Aviators against the world. Sons and daughters cries the stereo. Here are the bombs that fade away. Misheard; and I’m waiting to record the moment weather changes. I can see into your room when the lights are on. We are watchingContinue reading “Future Love”
Visions of the City!
You heard it here first… This series, curated by Bishopsgate Institute’s Poet in Residence Tom Chivers, will introduce some of London’s most exciting poets – writers whose work explores the complex, fluid and multivocal character of the City. Alongside their readings Tom will also premiere his own new work produced during the Residency. Visions of the City IContinue reading “Visions of the City!”
Tom Chivers 