Poetry
The Need to Make
Not bird not badger not beaver not bee Many creatures must make, but only one must seek within itself what…
Why Rhubarb?
Rhubarb, Rhubarb Words A definition of rhubarb - the noun - is meaningless background noise. This meaning is attributed to…
Valentine for Ernest Mann
Valentine for Ernest Mann You can’t order a poem like you order a taco. Walk up to the counter, say,…
The Road Ahead
The rolling English drunkard made the rolling English road. Before the advent of motorways in the UK (first section of…
A Perfect Match
Some paintings are made to pair with a poem. Read Edward Thomas's As the Team's Head Brass and then take another look…
Night Patrol
All agreed that 1917 had been a sad offender. All observed that 1918 did not look promising at its birth.…
Marching Men
Literary reputations come and go, rise and fall like food fads and fashion. Marjorie Pickthall - once so highly regarded that…
On the Disadvantages of Central Heating
Hard to think of a better example of misplaced romantic nostalgia than yearning for the days before the era of…
What The Living Do
I've been reading the quite wonderful Tirzah Garwood memoir Long Live Great Barfield - a book that deserves several posts…
Saki: The Open Window and the Birds of WW1
"You may wonder why we keep that window wide open on an October afternoon," said the niece, indicating a large…