Privatisation

Privatisation, the political economic theme of the '80s and '90s, is often discussed in industrial terms. Coal, steel, automobiles, communications, water, and so on. But, I don't hear the term applied to housing. There was a "sell-off" of public housing, but it wasn't spoken of in terms like the sale of our national housing industry. … Continue reading Privatisation

Reflecting on process

Forty years ago I started on a journey that I had been planning for at least a couple of years before that. I wanted to be a poet. I came to Oxford to study language. I liked to say, as a sculptor needs to know how stone cracks, a poet needs to know how language … Continue reading Reflecting on process

Living in instances

Most artists do not inhabit all the instances of their art once they have released the piece in whatever form it may take. Performing writers, poets, monologists inhabit the moments of their performance but not that of each of the audience, who brings all their "stuff" to bear: difficult upbringings, hard money, out of the … Continue reading Living in instances

Riffing on the big themes

Nature, War and Love were the three headings in When Life Looks Like Easy Street. I still believe poetry has to engage with such big themes: archetypes and myths. And it has to live in instances. I have undertaken to submit five poems to the Verve Poetry competition. They are to have been never published, … Continue reading Riffing on the big themes

The war machine’s greed

George Monbiot was speaking over Al's shoulder, of the vandals who are wrecking the earth, and spoke of the energy industries, water and other extractive activities. But I didn't hear him name the "war machine", the defense and security industry, the military-industrial complex or the fin-tech infosys sustaining it all. When the masses are happy … Continue reading The war machine’s greed

Ethics and poetry: just a trash bag

I have been re-watching The Good Place and recapitulating reading I did a year or two ago. Warning: suicidality, violence, PTSD Doing bad things and having bad outcomes: selling a cure you know does not work to someone who doesn't need it; phishing attacks on pensions and payments through cold calling, website spoofing, and scam … Continue reading Ethics and poetry: just a trash bag

Contact?

A student of the theatre contacted me. I have "papers" and old photos of, by and about Mrs Oscar Beringer (born Amy - or Aimee - Daniell) and her daughters Esme and Vera Beringer. I understand that they may have been played down in the History of Theatre. Because they were women? Were they the … Continue reading Contact?

What I need to do?

Tell myself into the story that needs to be told. About the truth of kindness in all things. But, wait. Is there also a truth of uncaring? There seem to be people who care more and care less. There are times that I care more or less. And things in all these things about which … Continue reading What I need to do?

Good at anything

It is really hard to be really good at anything... thinking of athletics and poetry. The step from fun-run to club runner is huge. And, from club to national team is almost inconceivable. In any sport. Art is different. The rules are unwritten. The class boundaries, permeable. Tastes change. The courage it takes to set … Continue reading Good at anything

Foldy Things

I have been making "Foldy Things": small pamphlets, one A6 (two-fold from A4) and one A7 on light card. The current versions of these are in print and on soundcloud, and posted here with links, below. I have realised I need a QR code... Looking for another story Bringing the timber home. A poem is … Continue reading Foldy Things