E Y E W E A R, THE BLOG - FREEDOM MEANS BEING UNAFRAID TO WRITE WHAT YOU THINK

Sophie F Baker; photo credit Simon Veit Wilson Sophie F Baker documents the extraordinariness of the ordinary in poems, because it’s the only way she knows how. She is the recipient of an Andrew Waterhouse Award from New Writing North and an Eric Gregory Award from the Society of Authors. Her work has been published in various magazines including The Rialto , Iota , Horizon Review , Smiths Knoll , Ferment Zine and Pomegranate, and she has performed at venues around the country including Morden Tower and StAnza. She has worked at Mslexia for a number of years and lives in Gateshead.  The Point We’ll begin this time with the atmosphere—we’re too tired to consider the vastness beyond. But you say no , you are not pointing at that. I bring the focus closer and clouds come clear—I see ducks and ice-cream cones. But no , you say, not that not that . The tree, I think, and exasperate over which leaf it might be you’re asking for – because it is an ...

Eyewear congratulates this year's Eric Gregory winners   Niall Campbell, Tom Chivers, Holly Hopkins, Martin Jackson   and   Kim Moore.   Also, bravo to Laura Barton for her win of the Betty Trask award.  Also, good to see Lachlan Mackinnon winning a Cholmondeley.

Hats off (but don't eat them!) to this year's crop of outstanding 30 or under young British poets, who have been awarded Eric Gregorys for their unpublished manuscripts: Phil Brown, Matthew Gregory, Sarah Howe, Abigail Parry and Ahren Warner .  Eyewear is looking forward to their debut pamphlets and full collections in the coming years.

Eyewear attended the Eric Gregory readings last night at the cool Farringdon-area pub Betsy Trotwood - Ms. Baroque was also there. This annual event was created 9 years ago by a former Gregory winner, Scottish poet Roddy Lumsden , an indispensable force on the UK scene (few do more for young emerging poets). Lumsden hosted with an informal, informative style, and the readings were in three sets, spaced by 15 minute breaks, that seemed to go on forever; they were needed though, the venue became stifling at times, and a no open-windows rule was enforced. There was a good crowd - maybe sixty or so, mainly younger people, with a few parents and older types like me. The little stage is ideally placed, and the sound system was crisp and clear. It was an immensely positive vibe - everyone seemed glad to be there, and generally happy for the winners. It felt like an ideal situation - new poets being welcomed to the pack - not with envy, but admiration and support. This sort of event should b...