Jack and Jill went up the hill, to fetch a pail of water. ‘Walk quicker,’ said Jack. ‘You’re always so slow. You almost got us killed back there.’ He gobbled the breath which came ragged into his throat and swung the bucket he was carrying from one hand to the other. ‘Just move.’ His sister,…

When Sun was young he rode the Earth on Hare’s back hot as thoughtlessness he burned and Hare bucked and leapt crossing mountains and myths ice ages and oceans until, jealous of a volcano, Sun eased into the foothills, dismounted and was about to drink the land dry when he noticed Hare’s brown fur glowing…

There’s been some BIG SPACE NEWS! Fans of Astro Poetica will already know how much I love BIG SPACE NEWS but this is extraordinary. Two neutron stars have been observed colliding and sending out gravitational waves. This will lead to a whole new way to see the Universe! A neutron star is a very small…

Maukin, maigheach-gheal, mountain hare the shape winter takes in spring melting into the cracks where the cold still clings, the leap from the lea ahead of the fox’s shadow as fire chases ice, the mittened fist hiding the surprise of snow. — [sc name=”Coffee”] Illustration © 2017 Mark Bowers – thanks Mark!

Most days I write a poem to slip inside my son’s lunchbox. Last night we talked about how today was National Poetry Day and so he asked for an extra long one. It’s still bite-sized but I thought I’d share it here. Add your own National Poetry Day poems in the comments below. Freedom I…

Free from the darkness which held me tight Free from the nappy I’d wear at night Free from the hand which took me to walk Free from the rule to work without talk Free from the joys of sleeping till ten Free from the need to come home again Free from the days of not…

Cassini, bambini, we’ve come to say goodbye. Cassini, bambini, it’s time to leave the sky. You’ve looped the loop through Saturn’s rings, you’ve shown the world all kinds of things. You’ve shown us plumes of icy spray, but now it’s time you went away. Cassini, bambini, we’ve come to say goodbye. Cassini, bambini, it’s time…

I was a guest of Sally and Brett’s on BBC Radio Lancashire where I talked about death and feelings of loss and grief. The poems about loss I read are all accessible on my Medium article – A Loss For Words. If you use any of them, for yourself or with others, then I’d love…

This chess poem uses the same number of words as there are pieces on a board. You may also notice something about the first letter of each word on the first line. Rule Kindly Benignly Quietly, King. Be Knowingly Reasonable People will march solidly forward bearing your words across the board, uniting black white up…