Biography

Published 'Airport Reading' (tall lighthouse, 2004), ‘There is Violence in these Vapours’ (tall lighthouse, 2007 “… proves he is a master of ‘viral poetry’ – words that infect the reader with their anger, cynicism and intelligence…..” Agnes Meadows), 'In Bed with Shostakovich' (pamphlet, tall lighthouse, 2009), ‘Lucky’ (Lapwing Publications, 2015 “Buchan has said his piece and there is enough in this collection to remind this reader of how lucky he is.” Write Out Loud), 'Burglar: 45 Slight Poems' (Lapwing Publications, 2017), 'The Pleasure of Firing Back' (Lapwing Publications, 2022 "Graham Buchan combines cold observance with Emily Dickinson’s advice to ‘tell all the truth, but tell it slant’." Eamonn Lynskey). Three poems in national newspapers, others in three dozen magazines and fifteen anthologies. Joint winner Piccadilly Poets 2001, The Cellar Slam Champion 2006. Has appeared on BBC London (TV), BBC London (radio), Resonanace FM, Optical Radio, Sub City Radio, WBAI (New York), Iraqi TV. Appeared at Austin Poetry Festival, 2003 and 2008, Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, Babylon Festival in Al Hillah, Iraq (2014), International Poetry Festival, Granada, Nicaragua (2018), Letras en la Mar, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (2019) and 2 two-week poetry tours to New York, 2006 and 2009. Also published short stories, various articles, travel writing, poetry appreciation and dozens of film, theatre, literature and art reviews. My Gaudi House was Write Out Loud's Poem of the Month in November 2009. Video clips of some of his and other writers' poems being read can be found at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX_kDVClx9RpB3ALD0I3inQ?view_as=subscriber

Samples

Memories of an Optimist. He chanced on a tea dance outside the gates of Heaven, or was it the gates of Hell? The old and decrepit looking old and decrepit. He remembered, fondly, how trees liked to hold hands under the soil before a chorus of curious insects and how their leaves turned to the sun. The last of the rapists was expected to kill the girl. He remembered the Christmas tree which grew its own tinsel, and the light in the children’s eyes. The head man, very old, thin, brown wizened skin, yammered incessantly, incoherently, his hands in an attitude of prayer. The sergeant was becoming impatient. He remembered Mary who kissed him in the cupboard - it was warm and damp. When they entered the village all the houses were already alight. He remembered the waves washing the sand. ........................................................................................................ Television Poor hearts, twisting on the rope. Could you show us your penis? Could you show us your breasts? Could you show us your avatar? Could you show us your illness? Could you show us your breakdown? Poor hearts, twisting on the rope. Can I show you my penis? Can I show you my breasts? Can I show you my avatar? Can I show you my illness? Can I show you my breakdown? Poor hearts, twisting on the rope. I will show you my penis. I will show you my breasts. I will show you my avatar. I will show you my illness. I will show you my breakdown. Descent of Man. Uncivilization. Twisting on the rope. Far. Seeing. .................................................................................................. Blood and heads. A madness: the blood that flowed through France. Imagine the blood: dribbling down the wood (and the heads, the heads: a consciousness, a universe) and the enlightened crowd, cheering, and the blood, the blood, trickling down the stones, into the soil, into the cellars, into the vintage, and the enlightened crowd, cheering their heads off. The blade, rushing-heavy. They cheer their heads off, the enlightened crowd. ‘There is the priest! And the baker’s daughter! She was hoarding buns.’ The blade, rushing-heavy. ‘And the Constable, the bastard!’ Hold up a severed head. Raise it on a stick. ‘And look! The nuns.’ Drink to this.

All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.

Blog entries by Graham Buchan

Reading to Literature students in Chile. (29/07/2022)

Launch of my fifth book, The Pleasure of Firing Back (21/04/2022)

Video clips on You Tube (18/05/2020)

The Nationwide (27/02/2017)

Four London Poets on Saturday December 3rd (18/11/2016)

Blog link: https://www.writeoutloud.net/blogs/grahambuchan