The Friday Poem

A poem every Friday

The Frip

Photos of Nell and Hilary. Both looking studious.

Five Forward poems under the microscope

Helena Nelson and Hilary Menos discuss the five poems shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best Single Poem (Written)
A window at night with twilight streaming through. Or it could be a streetlight. Twilight is more poetic though, innit?

The art of loneliness

Annie Fisher reviews Night Window by Ian Seed (Shearsman, 2024)
Graphic showing an orange circle on a yellow background. A yellow shape like a small lightbulb dangles into the top of the circle.

O linger Sapphos of the lash-line!

Alan Buckley reviews PLUS ULTRA by Sarah Fletcher (CHEERIO, 2023)
A pink square-shaped speech bubble on a dark blue background.

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
The word 'MISSING' in white block capitals superimposed on a photo of the back of a red brick house, two sash windows, overgrown with foliage from the garden.

Oboes, pine cones, pangolins

Jane Routh reviews Missing the Man Next Door by Annie Fisher (Mariscat, 2024)
A tangle of snow covered beaches, a small red bird sits on one, from a distance it could be mistaken for a heart.

I with my mother became we

Maggie Mackay reviews Grief’s Alphabet by Carrie Etter (Seren, 2024)
A landscape photograph showing grass, a cloudy sky and a small crenelated building with a tower that looks like a lighthouse, but is presumably a camera obscura

The strong verbs

Helena Nelson reviews Camera Obscura by Philip Rush (Garlic Press, 2023)
Two luminescent jellyfish (presumably of the 'moon' variety) on a blue background.

Watch how we glow

Karen Smith reviews Moon Jellyfish Can Barely Swim by Ness Owen (Parthian, 2023)
Artwork in a graphic style showing the back of a man walking towards a tall building with many windows. The sky appears to be on fire.

That day when we can watch it fall

Steven Lovatt reviews Joe Hill Makes His Way into the Castle by Katy Evans-Bush (CB Editions, 2024)
Close up black and white photograph of a woman's face. She is looking down.

Reminiscing and joking and putting the world to rights

Bruno Cooke talks to Georgie Jones, the poet who found success via Instagram and TikTok
Purple cover with yellowish feathers drawn on. bit like wallpaper. There is an ostrich, and the book title.

Dunna wittle, it’ll be reet

Isabelle Thompson reviews Ostriches: Ten Poems about My Dad by Jeanette Burton (Candlestick Press, 2024)
The title of the book in seraph font on a an apricot background. Could do better.

In the ‘quiet coach’

Annie Fisher reviews Surprising the Misses McRuvie by Eleanor Livingstone (Red Squirrel Press, 2023)