The Friday Poem

A poem every Friday

The Frip

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)
Photograph of two people walking on the beach at low tide. A shadowy coaster is seen in the background. This may or may not be relevant.

There now

D. A. Prince reviews This is You, Dear Stranger by Paula Jennings (Red Squirrel Press, 2024)
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.

Dentologia: A Poem on the Diseases of the Teeth (1833)

Hunter Dukes on an eighty page poem by 'The Poet Laureate of Dentistry'
Black background with geometric shapes in orange, mostly triangles.

Nothing left to carve but the eye

Helena Nelson reviews Exposure by Eric Yip (Ignition Press, 2024)
Two book covers, one yellow, one green.

A commitment to honour women

Khadija Rouf reviews A Coalition of Cheetahs by Doreen Gurrey and Spin by Laurie Bolger
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.

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).

Evoking the Natural World

Rowan Bell talks to Katrina Porteous about the power of dialect words, plagiarism, and writing for radio
Image of a white skull on a black background. The skull has a pink flower in the right eye socket.

Say I was born in peacetime

Annie Fisher reviews Ruin, Blossom by John Burnside (Cape, 2024)