Sunday, September 13, 2020

'Certain Events in Blackburn, Lancashire, 1967' shortlisted at Wells

 

My poem 'Certain Events in Blackburn, Lancashire, 1967' has been shortlisted for the Wells Festival of Literature's Poetry Competition. This year's judge is Sean Borodale. Prizes are announced on 22nd October. I'm hoping to attend the prize-giving ceremony - Johnson be damned - as Wells is a great place. A magical part of the world. And, of course, it's a great festival!

Friday, September 11, 2020

'Variations on a Theme from Isaac Holland' receives Notable Mention in Poetry London Competition


My poem 'Variations on a Theme from Isaac Holland' has received a 'Notable Mention' in the 2020 Poetry London Prize, judged by Ilya Kaminsky: https://poetrylondon.co.uk/competition/

Thursday, September 10, 2020

Robert Bird 1969-2020


Robert Bird, who wrote a two books on Tarkovsky, and who I had the pleasure of meeting at the 2013 Zerkalo Tarkovsky conference in Ivanovo, Russia, has just died. He was only 50. A very sad loss.

Here is Robert's last essay, detailing Tarkovsky's last year, and his thoughts on his own - and Tarkovsky's - cancer.