Leonard Cohen interview - audio link
The PBS in the United States has an interview with Leonard Cohen for us to listen to. Leonard is his usual deadpan, funny, inimitable self - “We’re all dying of this incurable disease called age”. Umissable.
Poem: ‘The Move’ (Magma 35)
My poem ‘The Move’ appears in Magma 35. I will be reading it at the launch reading next Monday 3rd July.
Review: Matthew Caley, Sarah Wardle, Christopher James (Magma 35)
My review of Matthew Caley’s The Scene of My Former Triumph, Sarah Wardle’s Score! and Christopher James’ The Invention of Butterfly has just been published in Magma 35.
Oxfam Poetry CD - Essential Listening
Thanks to Todd Swift for organising a terrific reading last Thursday to launch the new Oxfam Poetry CD - we heard Simon Armitage, Wendy Cope, Ruth Padel, Charlie Dark, Patience Agbabi, Jo Shapcott, Peter Finch and Helen Farish all for FREE, with wine thrown in on top!
The performances were a showcase of various kinds of excellence, and the CDs were snapped up as eagerly as the wine afterwards. At £4.99 for 69 poems read by 69 poets - including all of the above plus the likes of Andrew Motion, Al Alvarez, Benjamin Zephaniah, Carol Ann Duffy, Dannie Abse, Fleur Adcock, John Hegley and Pam Ayres it would be hard to think of a reason not to buy this CD - especially when you consider that the money goes to support Oxfam’s work around the world. Pick up a copy from your local Oxfam shop - details on the Oxfam website.