Almost Composed

Meditation and curiosity

Haiku on Twitter

September 26, 2019

I’ve recently been writing some haiku on Twitter. I like the concision and concreteness of the form. But I especially like that a haiku is a place where my interests in poetry, nature, and Buddhism converge. I’m particularly interested in using the form’s traditional focus on nature to highlight the climate crisis. There is a […]

categories: haiku, poems

Teignmouth Poetry Competition

April 20, 2019

In a spell of good luck I had two poems in the running for the 2019 Teignmouth Poetry Competition, which is linked to the poetry festival. ‘Since Eels do not Keep Diaries…’ was selected for the final ten by John Greening. ‘Chiaroscuro’ was awarded first prize in the local section. Here’s the judge’s report from […]

categories: poems

How to Recognise the Stars

October 16, 2017

How do? I had a poem shortlisted in this year’s Live Canon poetry competition. As in previous years, the shortlisted poems were performed by LC’s actors. Leon Scott memorised mine and it was filmed a few days later. He really brings it to life, performing it with great openness, heart, and soul. The poem is […]

categories: film and video, poems
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Storm

March 20, 2017

The storm came today. I waited in the garden for it. Wind rumbled around the house talking through the gate, the fence, the bamboo chimes we bought, banging against their separateness: nothing more than the ghost of unreported rainfall in the air. Pay attention, said the gate. Do not be angry, said the fence. This […]

categories: poems

River – dream poem fragment

March 11, 2017

Imagine stillness— as when a river flows out under low-glinting sun. A tear track reflecting dusk, mirror white. No water between its banks only sky.  

categories: poems
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