What makes a good poem is whatever it takes to lift the words beyond the sum of their parts, beyond formula or well-intentioned recipe. A good poem may be loud or quiet, traditional or innovative, complex or simple. Like many good gifts, it may not be what I have always wanted, but I savour the delight as I fall in love with it.

For twelve months, such gifts landed in my post box. I never knew what to expect, but the pleasure in having one’s reading horizons widened in such a way is immeasurable. Alongside the steady feast from the University Presses (I applaud their commitment to poetry), poems arrived from eclectic sources. In my view, their appearance signalled a poetry community that is ‘alive and kicking.’ Read on >