Just got ‘Sins of Our Fathers’ published in For Page & Screen Magazine. It’s a short story set around the year 2010, but is based on high school memories from around the 1970s. Hence the photo: my actual physics teacher was a David Essex lookalike!
Link to story here:
Funny how a simple writing exercise can expose what we’re really bothered about. Such is the power of a pantoum poem writing prompt! The instructions were straightforward, the results were… unexpected. It took me where I was not expecting to go!
The writing prompt was part of Pádraig Ó Tuama’s inspiring Poetry Unbound substack community. See his post here:
https://poetryunbound.substack.com/p/a-new-year-a-new-pantoum
And try it – poetry as in therapy, as in a personal reality check.
A SNOWY NIGHT IN ‘26
Throaty gurgle of ancient dishwasher has me charmed,
though I’ll be less charmed if woken by its final BEEP.
A multitude of visits to the little room–too much cider (0%).
Through curtains see thickening snow blanket in dim streetlight.
//
I’ll be less charmed if woken by a final BEEP.
On 4th loo visit now charmed by our white muffler 5cm deep,
through curtains watch thickening snow blanket in dim streetlight.
This thatched holiday cottage will look gorgeous in morning sun.
//
On 5th loo visit–our white muffler now 6cm deep.
Caught in a glass ball winter wonderland.
This thatched holiday cottage will look gorgeous in morning sun.
But don’t shake too wildly–for fear of shattered glass.
//
Caught in a glass ball winter wonderland,
a multitude of visits to the little room–too much cider (0%).
Don’t shake too wildly–for fear of shattered glass.
I dream of a throaty gurgle: life-as-we-know-it, its jugular cut.
Are you ever startled by beauty, catching sight of something unexpected in nature? It might be the smallest of things (Forget-Me-Nots), or the biggest (this morning’s sunrise), but it can feel like being nudged awake – jolted even – out of the brain benumbing inertia of screen addiction.
A cardinal beetle once did something like that for me, and in thanks, I wrote the following:
ODE TO AN INSECT
such sophistication of red
encasing wings of silk
symmetry of black
antenna curve of antler
jet ivory of elk
drinking in the sight of you
full-bodied delicacy
tracing your lines
of majesty
love calls to love
& echoes through
our atoms
From poetry collection ‘Dear Planet’, published by Fidessa Literary, July 2025.
“So deeply admire anyone involved in conflict resolution, especially as I can be hugely conflict avoidant. Poetry has been my compassionate therapist, my Pooh Bear, coaxing me into an understanding of how I got here: why my instincts are to hide at the faintest whiff of conflict. And the truth sets us free. Piglet doesn’t always have to be a coward.”
The above paragraph was my response to a prompt question, “How can you think about conflict in your life through the lens of poetry?” Each Sunday Pádraig Ó Tuama posts a deeply reflective piece on his wonderful Poetry Unbound Substack (poetryunbound.substack.com), always including a thought-provoking question, which is inevitably hard to resist.
Writing the poem below has been part of my process – recognising where certain fears came from (and why standing at the sink, washing the dishes is a favourite place).
Sometimes it’s only once we understand where we actually are, that we can truly start to move on…
AFTER DINNER MINTS
Sky rent in two
falling between
soles finding ground
I take my stand in silence.
She hurt beyond betrayal
he haunted and subdued
chasms ripple them apart
pernicious waves of white noise.
History layering upon
itself, unpeeling one from
another, an After Eights messy matter.
No wonder I seek sanctuary
in soap suds and greasy dishes
while fault lines re-form
I mask my aftershocks
my crumbling.
From poetry collection ‘Dear Planet’, published by Fidessa Literary, July 2025.
‘Dear Planet’ – my debut poetry collection – is now OUT THERE in the big wide world!!! (And I don’t know whether to feel ecstatic or terrified.)
As you’ll see from link below, the AMAZING publisher, Fidessa Literary, have decided to partner with Young Focus in raising funds for our students through the sale of the book.
THANK YOU, Anton and the Fidessa team!!!!
For friends in the Philippines: Fidessa is negotiating with a Philippine publisher to have the book distributed here. More info to follow very soon…
Please click link to read more, also for info on how to buy book: https://www.fidessaliterary.com/dearplanetproject
*UPDATE: Softcover edition should also be available in the next couple of days.
Book update: the formal launch/release of ‘Dear Planet’ is on THURSDAY!!! (July 17th)
More details to follow.
Photo: Thank you so much Tara Soriano for giving us your original painting!!! (Used for the book cover.)
video from Fidessa Literary
Made by publisher Fidessa Literary: https://www.fidessaliterary.com
Art by Tara Soriano (Instagram).
DEBUT POETRY COLLECTION ‘DEAR PLANET’ SOON TO BE RELEASED!
Good news update: Publisher Fidessa Literary will be partnering with me in donating part of the proceeds of ‘Dear Planet’ book sales to education charity Young Focus (www.youngfocus.org).
Pre-order info here: https://www.fidessaliterary.com/pre-order
Who knew – the simple habit of watching birds can change your life! And it’s not just about the joy. For me, at least, it has also started to subtly shift how I see reality…
RECENTLY WHILE BIRD WATCHING
far from being outside observers
like them
we eat drink pee & poop
procreate to finally fall to earth
dissolving into undergrowth
dust to dust
embraced embodied
we join our crew
far from being outside observers
like them
we bust out in song
our chests swell with zing & zang
of arteries full
filling air with music of our presence
as we squabble & bitch
flirt & follow build our nests
feed & fight for beloved brood
with beak & blood our very breath
far from being outside observers
like them
we learn to loosen clawlike grip
from snip snap
plastic fakery
to relaunch into thermals
on invisible wings or perch
among arboreal arches
in gladness still or loud
to look upon this world of ours
far from being outside observers
First published in Queen’s Quarterly, March 2025; part of debut poetry collection ‘Dear Planet’ to be published by Fidessa Literary later this year.
photo: Philippine Hawk-Eagle
photographer: Paul van Wijgerden
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