Poetry and Science By Jo Shapcott
6 Jul 2007 - 09:54 AM

I used the archive's excellent search facility to find poems which use science. Only two came up (both mine!) but there are many others which touch on the subject listed here under topics like 'nature' and 'environment' which we've looked at in the other blogs. But today I'm going to look at a few reasons why I think science and poetry have always been bedfellows.

0 comments Weather By Jo Shapcott
27 Jun 2007 - 05:53 PM

I am writing this at The Hurst in South Shropshire, which is one of the Arvon Foundation's four houses for writers (www.arvonfoundation.org.uk). We are in the beautiful Clun valley, but higher than the floods and swollen rivers all around this week. A couple of days ago a bridge collapsed in nearby Ludlow, and today we are aware that the River Severn is rising not far away. The force of the recent weather here has made me think how poets have responded to responded to this aspect of nature.

2 comments latest by Jo Shapcott Poetry Readings By Jo Shapcott
31 May 2007 - 11:22 AM

I've just been at the Hay Festival, listening to writers read from their work (and getting rained on in between sessions). It made me think back to readings I've been at in the past, and prompted two questions for the blog. First, what does the experience of listening to the poet read add to the poem (this relates to the archive as well as to live readings)? And second, what was the poetry reading that had the most impact on you? Don't forget, please feel free to raise any other questions you like as well, or even just thoughts about poetry that you'd like discussed.

15 comments latest by Jo Shapcott Hello, welcome, and an A to Z of animal poems By Jo Shapcott
9 May 2007 - 02:15 PM

This is the first blog of my period as poet in residence at the Poetry Archive. I am certain that all writers begin as readers, so it's a delight for me to be here with the opportunity not only to listen to the archived poets and read their poems, but also to give my views about the work, and have online conversations with other readers and writers. So please jump in with your own ideas. This post asks why poets write so often about animals and, taking examples from the archive, looks at some different approaches. I look forward to hearing back from you.

14 comments latest by Lois

Poet in residence archive