27 Results

As the editor of a long-running poetry journal, I thank Gina Rinehart for putting the noble art of verse in the media spotlight, writes Geoff Lemon, poet, author, satirist and editor of Going Down Swinging.

Australian poetry is suddenly the subject of considerable debate. While there’s controversy over a new poetry anthology by UNSW Press, there’s wider optimism over the health of poetry more generally.

The best way to improve your own writing? Read crap work, from lousy poetry to an embarrassing first novel. If the internet has given us anything, it’s unprecedented access to terrible writing.

The late David Foster Wallace used to annotate his books and the manner in which he did is just enchanting — makes you want to shimmy your hands and shuffle your feet, says W H Chong.

A poem for Catherine Deveny. The fucking days are fucking long, it fucking gets you fucking down, evidently Deveny town…

Britain’s poet laurate Carol Ann Duffy pens an ode to the volcano ash cloud over the United Kingdom. See, there’s a silver lining to everything.

Britain’s Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, was apparently so saddened by news that footballer David Beckham has snapped his Achilles tendon, she has written an entire poem about it: Achilles (for David Beckham).

Curiously, sci-fi/horror Author Stephen King has turned his hand to writing poetry. Even more curiously, his literary medium of choice to share his rhyme doggerel with the world? Playboy magazine. Read his effort, The Bone Church, here.

It is 7.45pm in the Queensland parliament, debate continues on the Criminal Code (Honesty and Integrity in Parliament) Amendment Bill. Democracy is hard at work …

“LISN bud LISN” — can you tell the difference between words written by American poet E.E Cummings and comments posted on YouTube? Take McSweeney’s quick quiz.

A nautical but nice poem by Crikey laureate Guy Rundle.

Kristen Hoggatt, The Smart Set’s poet advice columnist, is asked by a dying woman for some poetic consolation. The response is surprising.

More than 800 knitters are currently knitting and crocheting 12 inch individual letters to create the world’s first giant knitted poem. The selected poem is a secret, part of the centenary celebrations for the Poetry Society.

Australian Literary Review have published another whopper Clive James poem. His poetry is “self-parodic” and “depressingly bad” , sighs Guy Rundle.

“Master thespian” William Shatner reads Sarah Palin’s resignation speech as it was truly intended to be performed: as a beat poem.

An ode to Jacko.

Mickey, Mickey, no. Your lunacy can charm, yes. But you need a shirt. The Go Fug Girls counsel the sartorially unhinged actor.

Haaretz has experimented with article writing, sending out poets to cover Israel’s news. For Book Week, all the reporters’ notebooks were handed over to poets and novelists, except for the sports section.

The Guardian talks to poet Ruth Padel about the smear campaign that resulted in her resignation as Oxford University’s Professor of Poetry.

Britain’s Poet Laurete, Carol Ann Duffy, has reluctantly started work on a poem about recent events.

Aaron Goldstein enters the competition for most original take on Obama’s 100 days. Includes a poem called All Barack & No Bite