Today I'm highlighting the poetry of Peter Dixon. Peter Dixon was not just a poet. He was a performer, educationalist and artist.   He grew up in London during WW2, and as a boy his schooling was far from successful. He struggled with spelling and the understanding of word, form and grammar, so he tended to write secretly at home, drawing and writing of things largely ignored by schools.   Despite this difficult phase of his life, Peter eventually became a school teacher and then a senior lecturer in education. It often mystified him as to how all of this came to pass. As a teacher, he strived to be unbiased and did not neglect the children who experienced learning challenges.   Peter Dixon became a full time children’s writer and educational consultant. His first book was published in 1978. Whilst living in Winchester, Hampshire, with his family, he   contributed to over 100 poetry anthologies and had seven collections of his own work published including Grow Your O...

 During Covid when my home state of Victoria entered a protracted lockdown I started some personal poetry projects. One was 'Covid Chronicles,'  a collection of short poems of personal reflection which eventually were submitted to a time capsule intiated by Australia Post.  I also started posting poetry over two week intervals on a tree on the reserve behind our house. The reserve runs for approxiately 400 metres, between houses, before ending at Fisherman's Beach. People, families and dog walkers walk its length each day. I hear them from my writing cave. The poems were initially displayed under the banner- The Poet Tree . This humble project commenced in August 2020 and continued until September 2023, clearly immune to Covid. A huge storm completely blew away one of the posts and I took it as a sign to bring the project to a close. I was also looking at fresh projects to pursue, so it was timely.  Feedback indicated people missed the regular posting of poems, so in...

This week I'm sharing another Ars Poetica poem. The term loosely means the art of poetry.   The resultant poem is essentially a reflection on the writing of poetry. This ancient form goes all the way back to the Roman poet, Horace who first championed the form. These poems involve the writer examining aspects of poetry's purpose, methods and nature.  Ink In The Heart   There is no ink on my body Not a single tattoo I carry my ink in my veins Allowing it to escape through chosen words Laid down in poems   A river of inky thoughts flow forth Line by line Trickles and torrents Across a broad landscape of hungry pages   Thought transcribed Fertile revelations Pure and heartfelt Happy, angry and unharnessed They spill and spread out.   This enduring relationship Reveals to friend and stranger The strength of an inner call To which I willingly respond- Write, And continue to write Let the ink flow Reveal the word...

  I have just received a long awaited copy of the 'Collected Poems- Wendy Cope.' This comprehensive anthology provides an  impressive overview of the much admired U K poet's work, across several decades.  Wendy Cope has long impressed as a witty, insightful poet, whose work is both memorable and full of humourous intent. The human condition is extensively explored in her work.  Her first collection of poems was published in 1986. Eight further anthologies have followed as well as two poetry collections for children. She has further edited six additional anthologies.  I have been immediately inspired by my reading of the lengthy first line index at the back of 'Collected Poems.' It has inspired me to create a Cento poem. The Mystery Of A Poet’s Inspiration  -After Wendy Cope   Where do you get your ideas from? -An English meadow early in the morning A talented young chimpanzee A three letter beginning with f The fat boy in the seat across ...