Hi there. Getting to the computer has been difficult these past couple of weeks. Katy's work has been very much tied up with the screen, even today my time the computer is very limited. But I am writing. Since the new year I have written two poems and am in the final draft stages of a third. This one I hope to send to Magma for publication in March. The theme is alienation or exile and I'm trying to write about my Jewish experience. I do have another idea for a poem on the same theme and might start on that after this one. They have to be submitted in February so there is much to do.
I am teaching a lot of poetry at the moment. Seamus Heaney and Sylvia Plath with the second years and later with one second year group Blake and Betjeman. With a first year group I'm teaching an anthology of American poetry. All of this will influence my writing in a direct way. Plath's imagery is so dynamic and powerful - I love her play with language and symbols, with Heaney I'm attracted to the emotional restraint - the carefully crafted image, and the rich, full sounds of his of his work. But we will see what eventually materialises, perhaps nothing.
Anne-Marie has offered me a slot in the next Epiphany at The Troubadour which could be in the summer. That will mean a 15 minute reading. I am very excited about that.
I want to make a response to the TS Eliot prize winner but have not had a chance to read it yet.

Hi this is blog take 2. Poetry is the main purpose of this Blog. Poetry exists in the cracks left over from family life and work. This does not amount to very much time at all. Poetry is one of the subjects of my dream life. One that I hope to make a reality. As presures on my time increases so the time for poetry is squeezed into a smaller and smaller space. As a result my expectations and hopes for my poetry grow and grow. Typical. So this is a journal of my dream life. One of my resolutions for 2003 is to become a published poet. And another one is to add to this Blog on a regular basis. Just watch this space!

Today we've spent some time updating the Conjuring Sunlight web site. I've added a new poem to the Landscapes page and I've begun a new page called workshops. I'm hoping soon to be able to add some photographs and a selecion of the poems produced from the first workshop in Leicester.

I am overwhelmed by my level of paralysis. So much needs to be done. Today though was a day of hibernation - we kept warm, fed ourselves, let the children watch TV, read. I have not been out once. Katy said it was freezing outside when she ventured out for ten minutes.