Writers' Society: Chair of Poetry

What makes poetry both difficult to master and distinct from many other forms of art is perhaps the importance of what is not said, but only hinted at. Consider this poem by Jane Hirshfield, called 'I Know You Think I've Forgotten':

but today
in rain

without coat without hat

Behind these few words, there are probably thousands of feelings crying out to be expressed. Yet this is all that the poet chose to say. And it carries tremendous weight.

That, I think, is part of the magic of poetry. And although it can be difficult to write (and read), it is a worthwhile endeavour to those who are interested. In the position of Chair of Poetry, I hope to offer insightful feedback on your poems, drawing on my experience as Materials Editor this year, and my regular participation in our poetry feedback sessions.

I'm interested in promoting not only writing but also reading, as I believe that reading poetry carefully is the key to improving one's own poetry. As such, alongside the regular poetry feedback sessions, I plan to host 'book club'-style events where we read a selection of poems prior to meeting up; then, during the session, we could discuss the work, and write a poem imitating or responding to it.

The possibilities of poetic exploration are endless, whether you want to write about love or childhood, politics or ice cream (or even both, as Andrew Motion did in 'To Whom It May Concern'). I would be honoured to be a guide.