Features
![A pink square-shaped speech bubble on a dark blue background.](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Forward-prize-320x225.jpg)
The hairier I am, the sexier I feel
Bruno Cooke ranks the five poems shortlisted for the Jerwood Prize for Best Single Poem – Performed 2024
![Close up black and white photograph of a woman's face. She is looking down.](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Georgie-Jones-320x225.jpg)
Reminiscing and joking and putting the world to rights
Bruno Cooke talks to Georgie Jones, the poet who found success via Instagram and TikTok
![Quote on the poem page. "If then the teeth, designed for various use, Decay and ache, 'tis only from abuse; And lo, triumphant art can well ensure, At least a remedy, if not cure.](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Dentologie-short-quote-320x225.jpg)
Dentologia: A Poem on the Diseases of the Teeth (1833)
Hunter Dukes on an eighty page poem by 'The Poet Laureate of Dentistry'
![A photograph of a bearded man with wild greying hair. The words 'LIFE'S ALWAYS BEEN A BATTLE BETWEEN DEAD POETS AND LIVING' are superimposed in white text.](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DEAD-POETS-AND-LIVING--320x225.jpg)
Making sense of an often-meaningless world
Bruno Cooke talks to Darby Hudson, the bearded Australian poet in the cuddly jumper
![Photograph of Katrina walking on a beach wearing a round black hat. (photo Joe Grabham).](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/KP-Katrina-Porteous-photo-Joe-Grabham-320x225.jpg)
Evoking the Natural World
Rowan Bell talks to Katrina Porteous about the power of dialect words, plagiarism, and writing for radio
![A photograph of Taylor Swift taking a vinyl disc from its sleeve. the album is hers, the cover shows the normal rock'n'roll stuff, you know, woman in underwear lying on a bed etc.](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Taylor-Swift-320x225.jpg)
Lunar valleys in my mind
Is Taylor Swift a 'tortured poet'? Bruno Cooke listens to her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, to find out
![Photograph of Helen Evans. She has short grey hair and is clasping her hands and leaning to her left.](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Helen-Evans-at-poetry-reading-320x225.jpg)
Castaway Companions
Helen Evans chooses poems by Mary Oliver, William Stafford and Marie Howe, plus Victoria Adukwei Bulley, Kathryn Maris and Rebecca Elson
![A young man with a small beard is reading poetry into a microphone, reading from a mobile phone and waving a clenched fist.](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Lyrical-Lunacy-Bangkok-—-Bruno-640-320x225.jpg)
The air is full of love
Bruno Cooke checks out a Lyrical Lunacy poetry open mic night in Bangkok
![Ryan Van Winkle standing in front of a stone wall. He has glasses and a grey jacket.](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Ryan-Van-Winkle-320x225.jpg)
In Conversation with Ryan Van Winkle
We talk to Ryan Van Winkle, the new Artistic Director for StAnza
![Photograph of a pattern poem showing horizontal and vertical lines of text with the letters SALVS superimposed.](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/A-pattern-poem-from-De-laudibus-sanctae-crucis-—-2-320x225.jpg)
Medieval Pattern Poems of Rabanus Maurus
Sam Dolbear and Adam Green look at some 9th century examples of "pattern poetry"
![Castaway Companions](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/plugins/pt-content-views-pro/public/assets/images/default_image.png)
Castaway Companions
Sarah Leavesley chooses poems by Matthew Arnold, Jacques Prévert and Lorine Niedecker