Helena Nelson
![A section taken from the front cover, parts of the words "The" and "Arctic3 can be seen. Th cover is brown with cream text. What can you do?](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/The-Arctic-by-Don-Paterson-320x225.jpg)
Hanging onto Tam Lin in The Arctic
Helena Nelson reviews The Arctic by Don Paterson (Faber, 2022)
![Black background covered in a myriad of small white shapes. At first the look like birds, but as one looks more closely they look like small abstract figures on horseback. Or maybe on camels. Who knows?](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Imperium-Jay-Gao-320x225.jpg)
Uncharted territory
Helena Nelson reviews Imperium by Jay Gao (Carcanet, 2022)
![Protection](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/protection-2-320x225.jpg)
Protection
by Helena Nelson — You need to understand the context. / There’s an English verb: ‘to be in mourning’ / and it applies to me and I am in it. / I’m in mourning for my sister who has died / so when they talk about 'women in mourning' / I relate to that.
![A pastel hued watercolour of two older people in a squashy bed/ A woman on the left and a man on the right. They are wearing pyjamas and appear to be sleeping in a loose embrace](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Pearls-320x225.jpg)
He turns to her, she turns to him
Annie Fisher reviews Pearls: the complete Mr and Mrs Philpott poems by Helena Nelson (HappenStance, 2022)
![a hand holding a pen with a blue winners rosette attached to it](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/competition-320x225.jpg)
The Competition Poem
Is there such a thing as the competition poem? And, if there is, how do you write it? The Frip talks to Ian Duhig, Helena Nelson and Christopher James to find out
![Black and white head and shoulders photo of Helena Nelson smiling into the camera against the background of a field](https://thefridaypoem.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/helena-nelson-photo-320x225.jpeg)
Poetry editors have a love/hate relationship with poetry
In Conversation: The Friday Poem talks to Helena Nelson about the future of poetry publishing, the cult of personality and where to find good poetry today