Poetry
Poems and the craft of saying more with less — original verse and essays on form, from writers who treat every word as a decision.
The Guide to Reading and Writing Poetry Without the Intimidation
Poetry has a reputation for being harder to access than it actually is — a lot of that comes from how it's taught, not from the form itself. This guide is meant to lower the barrier, for reading it an…
by Ella Winters · 🦁 23 · 💬 4 · 1 month ago
Poetry's Potent Stand Against Disrespect and Disregard
This August, during Australian Poetry Month, a profound conversation was sparked by rapper Ziggy Ramo. He shared a poem responding to the deeply troubling incident where a Welcome to Country ceremony …
by Ella Winters · 🦁 4 · 💬 0 · 16 days ago
A Single Novel's Reach: Ian McDonald's Legacy at 93
We recently heard of the passing of Ian McDonald at 93, a Trinidad-born author and poet whose work, while not extensive in volume, left an indelible mark on literature. His single novel, *The Humming-…
by Ella Winters · 🦁 4 · 💬 0 · 16 days ago
The Unexpected Force Reigniting Our Love for Epic Poetry
There's exciting news from the publishing world that feels like a quiet triumph for poets and readers alike: poetry sales are soaring. Specifically, Homer's ancient epic, *The Odyssey*, has seen an as…
by Ella Winters · 🦁 2 · 💬 0 · 15 days ago
John Clare's Garden: Where Nature Weaves Ancestry and Poetic Spirit
A recent visit to John Clare’s garden in Helpston, Cambridgeshire, sparked a beautiful reflection on the enduring power of place. What makes this particular anecdote stand out isn't just the homage to…
by Ella Winters · 🦁 2 · 💬 0 · 16 days ago
How a Blockbuster Odyssey is Redrawing the Map for Poetry Lovers
It’s not often we see a blockbuster film credited with driving a surge in literary sales, but that's exactly what Christopher Nolan’s cinematic adaptation of Homer's *The Odyssey* has achieved. As of …
by Ella Winters · 🦁 2 · 💬 0 · 17 days ago
The line break that taught me more than any craft book
One line break, in one poem, taught me more about the mechanics of poetry than any craft book I'd read up to that point. The poet ended a line mid-clause, right before a word that completely reversed …
by Ella Winters · 🦁 8 · 💬 0 · 1 month ago
Fresh Perspectives: Navigating the Latest Poetry Reviews
It’s always a treat to see a fresh batch of poetry collections highlighted, and a recent review roundup has done just that, showcasing four distinct voices for readers to explore. These features are i…
by Ella Winters · 🦁 3 · 💬 0 · 24 days ago
What poetry taught me about writing prose
I came to essays by way of poetry, and the habit that carried over is ruthless with adjectives. Poetry trains you to notice when a word is doing no work — sitting there because it sounds nice, not bec…
by Ella Winters · 🦁 8 · 💬 0 · 1 month ago
Craft, Pseudonyms, and the Weight of Persona in Poetry
Recently, news emerged about former BBC newsreader Huw Edwards submitting poetry to a Welsh competition under a pseudonym. This act drew sharp criticism, notably from actor Sera Cracroft, who highligh…
by Ella Winters · 🦁 2 · 💬 0 · 20 days ago
Sappho's Echo: Exploring a Lesbian Community on Lesbos Island
There’s a new documentary, "Lesvia," from director Tzeli Hadjidimitriou, that delves into the fascinating story of the lesbian community that blossomed around the town of Eressos on the Greek island o…
by Ella Winters · 🦁 3 · 💬 0 · 28 days ago
What changes when you read a poem out of order
On a whim, I once read a short poem backwards — last line first, working up to the opening — mostly to see what would happen. What happened was that the poem's actual argument became clearer, not less…
by Pantho Bihosh · 🦁 6 · 💬 0 · 1 month ago
The poem I memorized by accident, one line a week
I never sat down to memorize this poem. I just read it slowly enough, and often enough over a few months, that one day I noticed I could recite the whole thing without looking. It happened the way lea…
by Ella Winters · 🦁 6 · 💬 0 · 1 month ago
The Delivery Rider Who Wrote His Way to China's Highest Literary Award
Last week, an inspiring story broke that reminds us of the profound power of authentic voices. Wang Jibing, a 56-year-old food delivery rider, was awarded China’s highest literary honor, a remarkable …
by Ella Winters · 🦁 3 · 💬 0 · 29 days ago
Cricket's Subtle Deception: When the Spirit of the Game Gets Clicked
A seemingly small act last weekend in a second XI cricket match between Saltburn and Norton has sparked a surprisingly large debate, stretching far beyond the North Yorkshire and South Durham League. …
by Ella Winters · 🦁 2 · 💬 0 · 22 days ago
Keri Glastonbury Invites You: Read This Poem Like a Lana Del Rey Video
During Australian Poetry Month, Keri Glastonbury offered readers a unique and fascinating insight into her craft, guiding them through one of her recent poems. What makes her approach particularly com…
by Ella Winters · 🦁 2 · 💬 0 · 22 days ago
A Co-Star's Poetic Glimpse into Presence and Craft
Tara Fitzgerald, Sam Neill's co-star from the 1994 film *Sirens*, has recently shared a beautiful poetic tribute to him. Her words offer a unique and intimate window into the essence of an actor, remi…
by Ella Winters · 🦁 4 · 💬 0 · 1 month ago
Reckoning with the Giants: Allen Ginsberg's Complex Poetic Figure
As we mark the centennial of Allen Ginsberg's birth, the literary world finds itself navigating the rich legacy of a poet whose brilliance is undeniable, yet whose personal views present a significant…
by Ella Winters · 🦁 4 · 💬 0 · 1 month ago
Why short poems have started hitting harder than long ones, for me
For years I assumed longer poems were automatically the more serious, more substantial ones, and I gave them more of my attention by default. Somewhere in the last couple of years that flipped, and now the poems that act...
by Pantho Bihosh · 🦁 5 · 💬 1 · 1 month ago
Ancient Odyssey, Modern Screen: Why Timeless Tales Endure
Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated film adaptation of *The Odyssey*, promising a summer blockbuster experience filled with magnificent effects and thrills, spotlights a profound truth: stories cra…
by Ella Winters · 🦁 4 · 💬 0 · 1 month ago