Our Poem of the Week is ‘Sunflower’ by Alexandra Rockwell Lorenz
Our final Poem of the Week for 2018 (we'll be taking a break over Xmas/New Year) is by Alexandra Rockwell Lorenz. At the time of year when days are short, her poem Sunflower gives a nod in its title to the long days of summer. Our thanks to Alexandra for her responses to our Q&A, and our congratulations to all the poets who've had their work chosen over the course of the year. We look forward to h...
24th December 2018
The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘To Life (full colour version)’ by Rick
This week, the POTW choice is the celebratory and gritty To Life (full colour version) by Rick.
Our thanks to Rick for his responses to our traditional Q&A, which you can read below. In the meantime, enjoy his poem, and be inspired to write your own!
Can you tell us a little background ab...
17th December 2018
The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Waking up to Snow’ by Peter Taylor
This week, Peter Taylor is awarded Poem of the Week for his piece Waking up to Snow. It's the second time Peter has received this award, so congratulations to him! Our thanks, too, for his responses t...
10th December 2018
The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Confessions’ by Randy Horton
This week our Poem of the Week award goes to Randy Horton for his poem 'Confessions', a piece which mixes both comedy and candour, and what feels like a tip of the hat to Yeats in the final line. Our ...
3rd December 2018
Our Poem of the Week is ‘Scooter Club and the Lost Boys’ by Beno
Beno describes himself as 'very new to reading and writing poetry'. His poem Scooter Club and the Lost Boys is still our poem of the week, though! It's a piece which pulses with energy. Read it and yo...
27th November 2018
‘Glenbrittle - the loch’ by Alan Travis Braddock is our Poem of the Week
Alan Travis Braddock has only started posting his work on Write Out Loud very recently – Glenbrittle - the loch is the second poem he's shared with us – but he's been writing for much longer, as his r...
19th November 2018
The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Words’ by Jon Stainsby
This Monday sees poet Jon Stainsby chosen for the second time, with his piece Words awarded Poem of the Week. Our congratulations to Jon, who is another of our contributors living outside the UK, and ...
12th November 2018
The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘The Dogs of Athens’ by John Short
This week, the poem The Dogs of Athens looks back to the time John Short spent living in that city, and brings it beautifully to life. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did. Our thanks to Joh...
5th November 2018
‘The Legacy’ by Jennifer Malden is our Poem of the Week
This week, our Poem of the Week comes from Jennifer Malden, who is awarded this recognition for the second time for her piece 'The Legacy'. Jennifer found time to answer our Q&A before returning to he...
29th October 2018
The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Light - O’ - Love’ by Katlego Maake Jr
This week, our choice is a poem by Katlego Maake Jr, whose poem Light - O' - Love is reproduced below. We're still waiting for Katlego's responses to our traditional Q&A which is such an integral part...
22nd October 2018
The Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Missing Soul’ by Joanna Halliday
As Autumn kicks into gear we welcome a new face: Joanna Halliday, whose piece 'Missing Soul' becomes the latest Poem of the Week. As always, you'll find the poem in this article if you missed it when ...
15th October 2018
‘Peace, love and understanding have left the building’ is our Poem of the Week
The latest in our ever-lengthening line of Poem of the Week comes from Jon Stainsby. His piece Peace, love and understanding have left the building is reproduced below for you to enjoy, along with his...
8th October 2018
‘Second Chances’ by Jane Briganti is Write Out Loud’s Poem of the Week
As a result of close-minded teachers, Jane Briganti tells us, art took a back seat in her life for many years. I'm sure many of us can relate to that, and part of Write Out Loud's rationale is to prov...
1st October 2018
"Writing in Rhyme" by Becky Who is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week
This week's Poem of the Week is by Becky Who, who was thrilled to be chosen. "This really means a lot to me, and thank you for a great web site, it has really changed things for me". The pleasure is ...
24th September 2018
‘The Voice of the Commons’ by Janey Colbourne is our Poem of the Week
This week, Janey Colbourne is awarded the Poem of the Week accolade for the first time. Her poem The Voice of the Commons attracted a lot of praise when it was first posted on Write Out Loud, and we'r...
17th September 2018
‘Triptych #1: Coffee, Paper, and Storm’ by Aly is Write Out Loud’s Poem of the Week
This week, our Poem of the Week comes from Aly, who describes herself as 'a woman made out of poetry, art, and architecture'. We hope you enjoy her poem 'Triptych #1' and her answers to Write Out Lou...
10th September 2018
‘Just before sleep’ by Peter Taylor is Write Out Loud’s Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is Peter Taylor’s ‘Just before sleep’. As you’ll see from Peter’s answers to our Q&A, his dinner party sounds like one well worth sitting in on!
How long hav...
3rd September 2018
'Love Garden' by Lynn Hahn is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week
This week's Poem of the Week is the wonderful Love Garden by Lynn Hahn. "Thanks for selecting my poem, it means so much to me" said a delighted Lynn when we contacted her to offer our congratulations....
28th August 2018
‘The Black Heart’ by Anya is Write Out Loud’s Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘The Black Heart’ by Anya. It’s the second time she has had her work chosen for this – quite an achievement for a poet who’s writing in their second language...
20th August 2018
'Sex' by Hallielle Rose Dawson is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week
‘Sex’ by Hallielle Rose Dawson is the new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week. In her answers to our questions Hallielle, who is a paramedic, said that she started writing poetry seriously about three ye...
13th August 2018
'Edward Lear rewrites The Flea by John Donne' by Marnanel Thurman is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week
Congratulations to Marnanel Thurman, whose poem 'Edward Lear rewrites "The Flea" by John Donne' is our Write Out Loud Poem of the Week. Here are the responses to our Q&A
How long have you bee...
6th August 2018
Reconciliation by Ray Pool is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week
This week’s Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is Reconciliation by Ray Pool. This is the third time Ray's work has been selected as Poet of the Week, so many congratulations to him once again. Ray is ...
30th July 2018
Our Poem of the Week is ‘Purpose is defeated’ by Kporho Vwede Daniel
This week, we’ve chosen Purpose is Defeated, by Kphoro Vwede Daniel from Warri, in the Delta state of Nigeria. His poem holds a mirror up to the political situation in his country, and his answers to ...
23rd July 2018
‘Bye bye blackbird’ by Ray Pool is Write Out Loud’s Poem of the Week
With his poem Bye Bye Blackbird, Write Out Loud regular Ray Pool finds himself awarded the accolade of Poem of the Week for the second time. Members of our team met up at a Walthamstow tea-room, ate ...
16th July 2018
Jennifer Malden's Mediterranean August is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week!
Jennifer Malden lives in Italy and, apparently, loves it there, in particular Sardinia. That wonderful Mediterranean air and lifestyle have clearly given her the freedom and head-space to write this ...
9th July 2018
‘One of those Weird Unexpected Moments’ by Hazel Ettridge is Write Out Loud’s Poem of the Week
One of those weird unexpected moments certainly attracted some comments when Hazel Ettridge posted it on Write Out Loud. Her modest response to being chosen as Poem of the Week was to say ‘Thanks, bu...
2nd July 2018
'Cafe Blues / space cowboy poem' by Damon Blackery is Poem of the Week
Cafe Blues / space cowboy poem by Damon Blackery is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week. Congratulations to Damon who, aside from his poetry, is a man of few and considered words: "My art is about my f...
25th June 2018
‘Summertime’ by Jan Oskar Hansen is Write Out Loud’s Poem of the Week
Jan Oskar Hansen is Norwegian, and has been a regular contributor to Write Out Loud for over four years. His poems often draw on his experiences as a sailor, or explore his memories. Jan is clearly a ...
18th June 2018
‘The Videomatic Tutor’ by Keith Jeffries is Write Out Loud’s Poem of the Week
Keith Jeffries lives in the Canary Islands – a reminder to us all of the international reach of Write Out Loud – and looks back to the years of National Service in his poem The Videomatic Tutor, obser...
11th June 2018
‘That Thing In The Cupboard’ by Hannah Collins is our Poem of the Week
This week, we offer our congratulations to Hannah Collins, whose piece That Thing In The Cupboard has been chosen as Poem of the Week. On her profile, Hannah says ‘I believe poetry is best when shared...
5th June 2018
Anti-seagull by Darren J Beaney is the Write Out Loud Poem of the week!
This week congratulations are due to Darren J Beaney whose poem Anti-seagull is our Poem of the week!
Darren describes himself as an OAP – Old Age Punk, and his poetic influences tend towards the e...
28th May 2018
Write Out Loud’s Poem of the Week is 'Random note 1' by Alex J.J.
This week, we offer our congratulations to Alex J.J for his beautiful piece Random Note 1. On his profile Alex says of himself:
Born in Middletown, NY. Korean American. Aspiring poet and writer. 19yr...
21st May 2018
The audio poem 'Tick Tock’ by Xoanxo is Write Out Loud’s Poem of the Week
Xoanxo is an artist who sees his poems as being the result of collaboration with his surroundings. This Poem of the Week is unusual and distinctive in that it's one you need to listen to rather than s...
15th May 2018
‘Backpacking in Nepal, June 1971’ by Albert Tatlock is our Poem of the Week
Congratulations to Albert Tatlock for becoming the latest winner of Write Out Loud Poem of the Week with his piece ‘Backpacking in Nepal, June 1971'. When we asked him to reply to our questions he pai...
7th May 2018
‘Killing the Piano’ by Joe Williams is Write Out Loud’s Poem of the Week
Our final Write Out Loud Poem of the Week for April is ‘Killing the Piano’ by Joe Williams. Joe’s a performance poet from Leeds, and – as you’ll see if you check out his Write Out Loud profile – has q...
30th April 2018
‘The Unlucky Vicar’ by Hugh is Write Out Loud’s Poem of the Week
As April draws to a close, the new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘The Unlucky Vicar’ by Hugh. A light-hearted piece which shows that men of the cloth are as prey to human frailties as the rest of...
23rd April 2018
'Epitaph for Gregory O'Donoghue' by Frances Macaulay Forde is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Epitaph for Gregory O’Donoghue’ by Frances Macaulay Forde, a tribute to the Irish poet who died in 2005. In the poem Frances recalls workshops with O’Donogh...
16th April 2018
‘Cycle of Life’ by Anya is Write Out Loud’s Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Cycle of Life’ by Anya. This is a thoughtful, reflective piece which attracted a lot of comment when it first appeared in our blogs. As she explains in her ...
10th April 2018
'The Robin' by Charlotte Bergman is Write Out Loud's new Poem of the Week
This week’s Poem of the Week is 'The Robin' by Charlotte Bergman. On her profile she says:
“I am a 19 years-old acting student from England. I'm also a singer, Lover of all things Harry Potter, He...
9th April 2018
‘A Memory of Rhinoceroses’ by Ian Whiteley is our Poem of the Week
Ian Whiteley is a Write Out Loud regular – his profile has had over half a million views – and very active on the live poetry scene, performing as part of political/music/comedy four-piece combo Bard ...
28th March 2018
'St Matthew and the Beatles' by Alex W is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘St Matthew and the Beatles’ by Alex W. It’s a poem about the instruction in St Matthew’s Gospel in the Bible to “love thy neighbour”. In the poem he asks wh...
19th March 2018
'Courtyard in Snow' by Tom Harding is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Courtyard in Snow’ by Tom Harding. Tom lives in Northampton and edits the Northampton Poetry Review, an online and print journal that also covers fiction an...
18th March 2018
'Far Away in My Living Room When We Have Real 3d Television' by Suki Spangles is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Far Away In My Living Room When We Have Real 3d Television’ by Suki Spangles, a futuristic poem – although not too futuristic – about watching “real people ...
5th March 2018
'Dear Sad Friend' by Ruby is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Dear Sad Friend’ by Ruby. In her Q&A responses she reveals that she began writing poetry around the age of 12, and although she calls herself quiet and intr...
26th February 2018
'Sea-faring' by Zach Dafoe is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘sea-faring’ by Zach Dafoe. In a detailed interview with Write Out Loud he talks of writing about “urban scapes, waxen-wood karaoke bars, boxing rings, hospi...
19th February 2018
'Three Short Poems About Mark E Smith' by Andy N is Poem of the Week
‘Three Short Poems about Mark E Smith’ by Andy N is Write Out Loud’s Poem – or poems - of the Week. These poems represent the three occasions – at a gig, in a pub, and at a bus station - that Andy en...
14th February 2018
'Roots and branches' by David T Jones is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Roots and branches’ by David T Jones. It’s a poem about “old Cwmbran” in south Wales, and with lines such as “while age sat weary on the family’s creaking r...
5th February 2018
'Presidents Club' by Shirley-Anne Kennedy is Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Presidents Club’ by Shirley-Anne Kennedy. It’s a topical poem, and each stanza begins with the refrain: “I hoped we had left it all behind.” Poetry is in he...
29th January 2018
'100 Reasons to Plant a Tree' by Tim Ellis is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘100 Reasons to Plant a Tree’ by Tim Ellis. In his Q&A he explains that this poem is a part of a collection about climate change. He also talks about how t...
22nd January 2018
'Song for the old year' by John Marks is Write Out Loud Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Song for the old year’ by John Marks, a 14-line poem about winter weather and birdsong. In his answers to our questions John says he is interested in shorte...
15th January 2018
'Snippets 2' by Ghost is Write Out Loud's Poem of the Week
The new Write Out Loud Poem of the Week is ‘Snippets 2’ by Ghost, a young Korean American born in Middletown, New York. ‘Snippets 2’ is a powerful and poignant poem despite its unassuming title. In h...
8th January 2018
'Resistance' by John Short is Write Out Loud's first Poem of the Week for 2018
The first Write Out Loud Poem of the Week in 2018 is ‘Resistance’ by John Short. According to his profile, John spent some years in the south of Europe working in fields and factories and as an Englis...
1st January 2018