Drop in by Matthew M.C. Smith

I’m particularly excited to welcome Matthew M.C. Smith to drop in today to talk about a poem from his stunning collection, The Keeper of Aeons, as I have long been an admirer of his poetry. My poem Paviland: Ice and Fire was published by The Lonely Crowd in 2022. I was really pleased to be

Drop in by Marie Isabel Matthews-Schlinzig

This week I have the pleasure of inviting Marie Isabel Matthews-Schlinzig, poet, flash fiction writer, reviewer and essayist to drop in to reflect on a poem from her chapbook, kinscapes. As John Glenday writes in his endorsement, my pamphlet kinscapes (Dreich, 2022): ‘investigates the issue of what it means to belong […] in other words,

Drop in by Katy Mahon

I don’t know what it is about Northern Ireland culture that results in the creation of so many talented poets. However, it’s my pleasure to introduce yet another, Katy Mahon, to reflect on a poem from her pamphlet Some Indefinable Cord, (Hybriddreich, 2022). Memory as a form of seeing Despite claiming in ‘Dust and Order’,

Drop in by Paul Brookes

It’s a special pleasure to welcome a poet who does so much to promote other poets’ work and to be able to return the favour: Mr Paul Brookes. Why dialect? This is the only sonnet in the collection written throughout in dialect. Others hint at the Northern way of speaking through their grammar. The tradition

Drop in by Peter Clive

What better way to start the 2023 than with a drop in by a poet who cares deeply about protection of the environment, Peter Clive. As I write this, while recovering from the hangover I inflicted on myself at a New Year’s party celebrating the start of 2023, Europe is experiencing temperature anomalies that are

Drop in by Paul Waring

I have great pleasure in inviting Paul Waring to drop in today, a poet whom I have admired for some time. Thank you Nigel for inviting me to drop in and write about Melt, a poem from my latest collection Muckle Anima, a Dreich 2022 ‘Classic Chapbook’ competition winner. I wrote my first poem in

Drop in by Valerie Bence

This is a first for the website, a drop in by a poet published by the fabulous Emma Press! Welcome, Valerie Bence. Thank you Nigel for this opportunity to reflect on my writing and to look at Press me in peat from my latest Emma Press pamphlet Overlap. After a career as a librarian and

Drop in by Kate Young

Today I have the special pleasure of welcoming the very talented poet, and fellow OUPS member, Kate Youn, to reflect on a poem from her new pamphlet, A Spark in the Darkness (Hedgehog Poetry Press, 2022). A Spark in the Darkness is my first full pamphlet published with Hedgehog Press, so I feel very fortunate

Drop in by Clare O’Brien

As a fan of ekphrastic poetry, I’m delighted to welcome Clare O’Brien to reflect on her new pamphlet, Who am I supposed to be driving? (Hedgehog Poetry Press, 2022). Spark the Fusion is the fourth poem in this collection. I’ve always been drawn to ekphrastic poetry, but most have been written in response to something

Drop in by Zoe Brooks

This week I’m delighted to welcome Zoe Brooks, who has agreed to drop in to introduce her new poem for voices, Fool’s Paradise. That’s how Fool’s Paradise starts. We are on the road with three travellers and like them we question where it starts and when. The words and rhythms reference the Bible, but at