My pleasure in Ruth Padel's accession to the position of Oxford Professor of Poetry was premature. It seems that she was the person who set the smear campaign against Derek Walcott into motion. In a statement to media last night, she had the following to say: I genuinely believe that I did nothing intentional that …
Revision and rubbish
I finished Poem, Revised the other day, and it was every bit as good as I'd hoped. There's one poet in particular that I'd like to quote: Deena Linett. Not because her revision was especially illuminating – we got the final version of the poem plus a lot of notes from early pre-drafts, along with …
Ruth Padel, Oxford Professor of Poetry
Hooray hooray for the month of May! Another first – Oxford University have finally elected a woman as Professor of Poetry! Ruth Padel, great-great-grandaughter of Charles Darwin (and cousin of my fellow Glamorganite, Emma Darwin). Her election comes somewhat soured by the late withdrawal of Nobel laureate, Derek Walcott, but you can read about that …
Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate
It's happened at last. After 400 years, Britain has finally chosen a female Poet Laureate! Before you blokes stop reading, muttering to yourselves about "bloody feminists" (and yes, I do know what I just said), let me put it into perspective for you. And I promise that this will be the only feminist rant in this …
bibliophile lust-objects
I think it would come as no surprise to any of you to learn that I am an unrepentant bibliophile, and that libraries are places I put ahead of churches. Doing a bit of surfing, I came across an incredible site: Librophiliac Love Letter: A Compendium of Beautiful Libraries. Go. Browse. Marvel at the incredibly beautiful libraries …
A Dark Feathered Art 