The Friday Poem

A poem every Friday

Unpack a poem

Photo of Leila Chatti looking at the camera. She has long brown hair and is wearing a black turtleneck sweater and red lipstick.

On Trying To Notice Joy

Polly Atkin on her love of tea, Teaism, and what Leila Chatti's poem 'Tea' means to her
Close up photo of Diane Seuss' face. She looks intensely at the camera, heavy dark eyeshadow frames her eyes.

I drove all the way to Cape Disappointment

Rachel Burns takes a close look at the opening poem of frank: sonnets by Diane Seuss
Natalie Shaw, wearing glasses and standing in front of a green wall with a framed painting on it.

Down in the soily waters

Natalie Shaw gives us a close reading of the poem 'Maybe; maybe not' by Denise Riley
Photo of John Glenday sitting outside in front of a bridge. He is wearing a blue shirt and has a short grey beard and greying hair.

We can never be passengers any more

Alan Buckley gives us his close reading of the poem 'The Walkers' by John Glenday
Paul Muldoon standing in front of a grey wall looking 'ard. He has grey curly hair and glasses, and he is wearing a brown tweed jacket and tie and a dark shirt.

With a pink and a pink and a pinkie-pick

Unpack a Poem: Steven Lovatt on 'The Loaf' by Paul Muldoon
Picture of Don looking straight at the camera, He has a gray beard and a bald head, black jacket and white shirt.

My boy is painting outer space

Unpack a poem: Ben Wilkinson on 'The Circle' by Don Paterson
A photograph of Dannie Abse in a comfortable-looking study or sitting room.He is wearing a tweed jacket and a denim shirt, his hair is white and he is laughing. Photo credit Amit Lennon.

Ticking its own wild time

Tony Curtis on 'In the Theatre' by Dannie Abse, a poem which changed his life as a writer


Photo credit and copyright Amit Lennon
A tiny man defending himself from a large and dangerous looking cat! Its a poster image from the film " The Incredible Shrinking Man"

After the first phase, after the great fall

In the first of a new series of close readings, Hilary Menos unpacks the poem ‘Incredible’ by Simon Armitage