Author Archives: The Lone Reader Blog

Poems To Live By: ‘Love (III)’

Posted on March 29, 2018

There is nothing like a satisfactory meal. The only thing which can possibly improve on it is a meal with people you love and value. Or, even greater, people who love and value you. The food, the drink, the pleasure … Continue reading →

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Poems to Live by: ‘Broadcast’

Posted on February 13, 2016

Broadcast  Giant whispering and coughing from Vast Sunday-full and organ-frowned-on spaces Precede a sudden scuttle on the drum, ‘The Queen’, and huge resettling. Then begins A snivelling of the violins: I think of your face among all those faces, Beautiful … Continue reading →

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Poems to Live By: ‘In my craft or sullen art’

Posted on January 9, 2016

In my craft or sullen art In my craft or sullen art Exercised in the still night When only the moon rages And the lovers lie abed With all their griefs in their arms, I labour by singing light Not … Continue reading →

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Books of the Year

Posted on January 2, 2016

Tender is the Night – F.Scott Fitzgerald One of the pleasures of reading is re-reading. I must have read this novel as a student and I’ve read it at least once since then, enjoying it both times. This time was different … Continue reading →

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Poems to Live By: ‘Tomatoes’

Posted on June 5, 2015

There’s a certain irony to 24 hour news. It feels as if the more news we get, the less important it all seems. It certainly feels less real somehow. Whereas thirty years ago, a Michael Burke report seemed to move … Continue reading →

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Poems to Live By: To My Daughter in a Red Coat

Posted on February 23, 2015

To My Daughter in a Red Coat Late October. It is afternoon. My daughter and I walk through the leaf-strewn Corridors of the park In the light and the dark Of the elms’ thin arches. Around us brown leaves fall … Continue reading →

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Poems to Live By: ‘Wedding Day’

Posted on February 14, 2015

WEDDING DAY Oh my love I am afraid. The sound has stopped in the day And these images reel over And over. Why all those tears, The wild grief on his face Outside the taxi! The sap Of mourning has … Continue reading →

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Poems To Live By: ‘The Shape of Nothing Happening’

Posted on February 13, 2015

The Shape of Nothing Happening Dust knows the places we have forgotten, or we never see, marking out the margins of our world: the window ledge’s cracked paint, the bevelled edges of a door frame, the dado rails, the skirting … Continue reading →

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Poems To Live By: ‘The Tyger’

Posted on January 23, 2015

As a teacher, if I wasn’t sure about what to teach, the following poem was the one I usually turned to. It worked with pupils of all ages, from year 7 right through to A Level students. As a result, it … Continue reading →

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Books of the Year (part 2)

Posted on December 30, 2014

Most of the time, I tend to read whatever’s on the bookshelf or whatever’s been recommended by others. Here’s what I’ve enjoyed reading this year. Why not let me know what you’ve enjoyed in the comment thread which follows. 1. … Continue reading →

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