Poetry To Sustain You

10/04/2020

This classic from Mary Oliver to remind you to put on your own oxygen mask first.

Mary Oliver is one of the greatest accessible nature poets of our age - her poetry will show up more in this channel over the next few months. The Journey - ...

07/04/2020

The last lines of this poem are ones I use all the time. Age is a gift, denied to so many, however much it can be frustrating and sore at times.

The last three lines of this poem are ones I use all the time. I always thought my depression meant I would die early, and reaching 39 this year is an unimag...

06/04/2020

I was going to choose a more emotional one tonight, but given current events, this seemed more important. Sometimes, things don't go from bad to worse. Let's hope this is one of them.

I was going to choose a more emotional one tonight, but given current events, this seemed more important. Sometimes, things don't go from bad to worse. Let's...

05/04/2020

Another Wendy Cope today - the sense of peace and happiness in this poem is one I really miss. These moments often arrive out of nowhere, because of the simplest of things. Treasure them.

Another Wendy Cope poem today, because the last lines of this are a feeling I miss but am hoping for. The Orange - Wendy Cope At lunchtime I bought a huge or...

04/04/2020

A beautiful, short poem on recognising the small moments, from another of my very favourite poets, Wendy Cope. This one makes me think of what we'll be like when we can go outside again, and I hope we can keep that sense of awe.

A beautiful, short poem on recognising the small moments, from another of my very favourite poets, Wendy Cope. This one makes me think of what we'll be like ...

03/04/2020

Late again, but I had to get this right.

This is a beautiful poem by my favourite poet, about Katrina. It's been on my mind lately, and the last two lines have haunted me for years.

The last two lines of this poem by Andrea Gibson, my favourite poet, have haunted me ever since the first time I heard them. They've been on my mind a lot la...

02/04/2020

Late today, but here's a short, hopeful one from John Masefield.

Short, but hopeful at least. An Epilogue - John Masefield I have seen flowers come in stony places And kind things done by men with ugly faces, And the gold ...

01/04/2020

For all the older people who are rightfully angry that the world seems to think their lives are done and they're just biding time, here's a poem for you.

While the world talks about older people as having used up all their life so we should not prioritise saving them, here's Elaine Feinstein's words about enjo...

01/04/2020

This is usually read by people at the end of a relationship, as they learn to enjoy their own company again. It can help us all in our isolation.

Usually read by people learning to like their own company after the end of a relationship, this poem is a good approach for those people struggling with isol...

01/04/2020

Small acts of kindness in a world of darkness matter.

Small acts of kindness are necessary. For A Five-Year-Old - Fleur Adcock A snail is climbing up the window-sill into your room, after a night of rain. You ca...

01/04/2020

I usually go down to the beach when things are rough, so not being able to get there right now is making my heart ache.

I am missing the sea while we're all in lockdown. Sea Fever - John Masefield I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask i...

01/04/2020

The first few videos are up now, of some of the poems I read during the launch event. I'll be adding new ones daily, so subscribe or check here when you need some words to keep you going ❤️

For a world currently filled with the 'forethought of grief', this is a moment of grace. The Peace of Wild Things - Wendell Berry When despair for the world ...

28/03/2020

45 minutes to go before the launch event at https://www.twitch.tv/poetrytosustainyou!

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28/03/2020

28/03/2020

Tell me what kind of poetry you'd like to hear more of over the coming weeks and months!

28/03/2020

Launch event Saturday 7pm GMT!

I'll be streaming at https://www.twitch.tv/poetrytosustainyou for an hour or so, reading some of the poetry which has been keeping me going lately. Come along and talk to me about it!

After this, I'll be trying to do one poem a day.

I'll be starting out with more positive poems, but as time goes on I'll be including poetry of grief and loss. I'll use content warnings for them.

I'll be putting the videos up afterwards, so if you can't make it for the discussion you shouldn't miss out on the poetry!

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