During these days of lockdown and social distancing, I have clearly missed the social interaction and conversational stimulation flowing from coffee time at my favourite coffee haunt, Il Piccolo . My morning routine involves a protracted period of writing, reading and responding in my writing space, and then round about eleven o'clock, I venture out into the day for coffee. They say that if a writer/poet is not out there, they will never be out there... My coffee time enjoyed at Il Piccolo When I leave home I take a book to read, my writer's notebook, a stack of pens and with my cappuccino beside me, I listen, observe, engage and then take a moment to surrender to my thoughts. I enjoy being among friends and familiarity. I generally sit at the back of the cafe in order to better observe the passing parade. It's also close to the kitchen and I get to talk to my friend, the chef.  Quite a number of my poems have sprung to life in this place. I've always bee

I am currently involved in an engrossing writing project- my first verse novel. I am enjoying the challenge immensely. Because it set in Victorian England and Australia, the project has involved me in a significant amount of research regarding the lives of children at that time, as well as the language of the day. Because the story is partly fact based, it has lived within me for many years it has been percolating, you might say. It is now ready to emerge. My time in lockdown has helped to focus my writing efforts enormously.  We must also read what we are trying to write, in order to develop an understanding of the genre. For this reason I have for some years been building a collection of verse novels. The work of writers I admire is hopefully informing my own writing.  This is a further example of research for my own project.  I recently purchased 'Every thing All At Once,  written by Steve Camden. The author, Steve Camden is one of the most respected spoken word artists i

Here is the second Poetry Podcast conducted to support the Independent Schools of Victoria Arts Festival. Listen to this second Poetry Podcast, a resource for poetry teachers and young poets.  In this episode, Alan Wright, an educational consultant, writer and poet, and Corinne Kaplan, an educator with a passion for literacy, discuss how you can help young poets find inspiration. POETRY PODCAST No.2 - Inspiring Young Poets

This week I have been enthusiastically embracing the writing of Poems of Presence. Short poems, written daily, to celebrate my conscious thoughts and observations. It involves close reading of the world surrounding me. Noting thought and feeling. I have found this writing exercise has certainly made me more acutely reflective, more responsive. As I walk each morning, thoughts swirl round in my head jostling for position. When I return home, I rush to my notebook in eager anticipation of the jotting down of heightened thought. I am a well prepped poet. Here are  some of this week's notebook gatherings... My suspicions grow by the day for... Door handles, Cash,  And populist politicians. They are my push button issues To be avoided like, Like... -the plague! All the worlds I live in All the worlds I see Won’t fit into one mouthful When words spill out of me That emerge with spark and flame Sometimes they’re words of fire My worlds are not t

How do you inspire young poets?  Poetry Podcast No.2. This is the second instalment of a recent discussion I shared with Corinne Kaplan, an educator with a passion for literacy. We had the opportunity to sit and discuss what inspires young poets. It formed part of the  Arts Learning Festival conducted by the Independent Schools of Victoria. In this episode, we discuss how you encourage young poets to find inspiration. Think small: their own treasures and the objects, the things around them. And what if they can’t find the right word? Well, it’s perfectly okay to make one up… If you are willing to stay with us until the end, I will share two of my poems from the recently published anthology, ' What the Poemster Found '. Arts Learning Festival · Poetry Podcast Part 2 The Words That Come At Night Sometimes The words of unwritten poems Slide into bed next to me They nestle on my pillow And whisp

Some recent videos you might enjoy...

Contemplating actual travel remains a distant consideration at present, so virtual travel, it is for me... I started browsing some old travel photographs -and my mind went racing-back! And because time is not of the essence right now, I rummaged with much delight, reliving those far off realms of my travel experiences. So, this poem owes it origins to travel memories and is loosely an ekphrastic poem, because it is a conglomeration of various seaside related images, not a single image.  I do love to wander through new and exotic locales. Armed with my camera, my writer's notebook and a keen eye, it is easy to spend a few hours exploring. It is good to wander at different times across the day too. I t broadens the view, the perspective. I invite you to wander through your personal catalogue of travel snaps and mine for treasure... Where have you wandered? What do you recall? A Walk through A Seaside Village Breakfast failed to fire