PSP has published books, pamphlets, and cards for 15 years and there are 15 authors on the list – sadly 9 of them now dead. Their words, however, are still alive and available. In the spirit of playfulness and aliveness, each month this year I will publish a quote – a voice from beyond. In one of the the first PSP newsletters there was a quote about play: “Play can be, and frequently is, of the utmost seriousness. Thus the cheat is far less hated or chastised than the spoil-sport. The person who somehow subverts and shatters the validity, the importance of the game” (J. Huizinga – Homo Ludens). And in each newsletter, I intend to include something from each of the living authors. Ratnadevi’s book Bringing Mindfulness to Life may become a sequel through the monthly articles she writes for Buddhist Global Door.

New Moon Writing Hour Thursday 30th January 4pm

Linda France’s New Moon Writing Hour on zoom. Here’s the zoom link

I also recommend Linda’s Startlings.

without title by Gerry Loose book launch 30th January 6pm live and on zoom

Gerry Loose (1948–2024) was a poet, horticulturist, land-artist and anti-war activist. A “slow-moving nomad”, he lived in England, Ireland, Spain, Morocco, and most recently in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. His work draws on the unbuilt world, the human and the non-human as well as geopolitics. His poems are as likely to be found inscribed on stone in botanic gardens, hospitals, schools and other public places as in his many books. His selected poems, Printed on Water (2007) and two later books, that person himself (2009) and An Oakwoods Almanac (2015) are also published by Shearsman.

You are invited to a book launch and celebration of Gerry Loose’s latest book: without title

Date: 6pm Thursday 30th January

Venue: Street Level Gallery 103 Trongate, Glasgow G1 5HD Scotland

Readers include: Gerrie Fellows, Peter Manson, Kathrine Sowerby, Sukhema

The event will be live-streamed and recorded on zoom:

Topic: Gerry Loose, without title book launch
Time: Jan 30, 2025 06:00 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87650474480?pwd=hlERabTh2WFPb8A2a9nbNmQjdp9LLi.1

Meeting ID: 876 5047 4480
Passcode: 495892

The Poet’s Way 2025 – 2nd February 5:15pm.

2025 dates: 2nd February, 2nd March, 30th March, 4th  May, 1st June, 6th July, 3rd August, 7th September, 5th October, 2nd November, 7th December. Doors open at 5:15pm for a prompt start at 5:30 – ending around 9pm Venue: Glasgow Buddhist Centre: 72 Berkeley St (G3 7DS),

The Poet’s Way awakens to the power of poems to compliment & enhance our spiritual practice. Bring a poem to share, your own or a favourite published poem. Please bring 4 copies of the one poem you want appreciated. Also please bring writing materials and vege food-to-share during a comfort break. Our programme includes a guided meditation inspired by poetry, and small groups for close reading and appreciation of poetry.

Ada Limón the 24th Poet Laureate of The United States

This morning I read an interview in Tricycle magazine with Ada Limon. Here are two quotes:

“All that blank space around the poem is a way of silencing everything else before you enter it.”

“When I think of loving kindness as an offering that spirals outward (in all directions), I think that poems can do that too.”

To read some of her poems, click on the link above in her name. Her term finishes in Spring 2025. I wonder who will be next.

Poet’s Way Spring Equinox 21st March 7pm UK-time on

You are invited to a Zoom meeting: The Poet’s Way
When: Mar 21st, 2025 07:00 PM London. Register in advance for this meeting:
Sukhema and/or Ratnadevi is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Spring Solstice Poet’s Way
Time: Mar 21, 2025 07:00 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86867814087?pwd=1Q7F6RUwY5zsialBw9K9mimzUicmq5.1

Meeting ID: 868 6781 4087
Passcode: 760114

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Please bring a Spring poem to screen share, your own or a favourite published poem. The evening will include a guided meditation and small appreciation groups for close reading of poems.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The Other Side of Hope

journeys in refugees and immigrant literature. Today I attended a launch of the next of the next volume of this literary magazine and listened to writers from Ukraine, Poland, Portugal, El Salvador, and Syria. Other Side of Hope is amigrant-led, independent, non-affiliated, not-for-profit publication and the home of the migrant writers and poets of the world.

Established in 2021, the other side of hope: journeys in refugee and immigrant literature is a UK-based literary magazine edited by migrants. So far we have donated 2,500 copies to refugee centres, hotels with new arrivals and public libraries of sanctuary. Click on link above for more information.

Warriors and Saints

An anthology of poetry and art edited by Joe Bidder and Dave Russell (Dizzy Press 2024) – a new independent literary publisher dedicated to producing high quality books of poetry by disabled poets. This book arrived recently from Joe who was co-founder of Survivors Poetry and helped me set-up Survivors’ Poetry Scotland (SPS) over 30 years ago. SPS then went on to establish Lapidus Scotland. There are several familiar poets in Warriors and Saints including Mimi Khalvati who led the first facilitator training course promoting creative words for health and well-being in Scotland.

Lapidus Scotland latest news for January

Lapidus Scotland newsletter comes out monthly and you can subscribe here.

Lapidus International Lapidus International’s Creative Bridges conference 2025 which is scheduled to take place on 13th & 14th September, online. If interested in contributing or attending contact here.

Alec Finlay:

After Cézanne, Maitreyabandhu

David Donnison

DEADLINE OF DEATH

                       I join the queue to see my oncologist,

waiting the usual forty-five minutes.
(But do not complain: he’s giving each patient
the time they need.) The man ahead
is wearing his funeral suit: dark serge,
silk tie and shiny white shirt,
his worried wife escorting him.
(This doctor may give us sentence of death.)
When my turn comes he gives me warning
of rising test scores. No point in asking
“How long have I got?” So I put my question
in a different form. “I’m sending my publisher
“my latest book. Planning the next.
“Should it be brief? Done in one year?
“Or will I have time for a longer work? “
“Two or three years” he replies with a smile.
“But do remember: at your age
anything can happen at any time.”
So I’d better get started. No time for rhymes.

DD 19.5.17

St Mungos Mirrorball

since I’m a member and several authors in PSP are or have been members – click on the link above for the latest poetry events in Glasgow.