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Stephen Collington

Stephen Collington studied English and East Asian Studies at the University of Toronto, and Comparative Literature at the University of Tokyo. His interest in Asian literature dates from his first enchanted encounter with the Chinese character itself, black-ink epitome of Emerson's famed dictum, "Language is fossil poetry." He has never been to Sichuan, but when he visited neighbouring Hunan in the 1990s, the slogans from the Cultural Revolution were still visible on the farmhouse walls. He would like to dedicate "How long is life?" to

How long is life? — Liu Shahe, Shi Tianhe and the Stars Poetry Disaster

How long is life?

Liu Shahe, Shi Tianhe and the Stars Poetry Disaster

To be misunderstood by one person is troublesome.
To be misunderstood by many is tragedy.

Stung with Love: Poems and Fragments (Penguin Classics)

For the first time in Penguin Classics-the incomparable verse of the ancient Greek lyric poet Sappho, in a brilliant new translation Sapho's writings are said to have filled nine papyrus rolls in the great library at Alexandria, but only one poem survives complete. This new translation of all of Sappho's extant poetry showcases the wide variety of themes in her work, from amorous songs celebrating adolescent females to poems of invocation, desire, spite, celebration, resignation, and remembrance.

author: Sappho
ASIN or ISBN-10: 0140455574
binding: Paperback
list price: $15.00 USD
amazon price: $13.95 USD

Persisting in Madness

Persisting in Madness¹

Alan was still writing songs in the 1970’s, while I turned out historical narratives in iambic pentameter. We were much influenced by the Greek Alexandrian poet Konstantin Kavafy, and his sexual candor. We also admired A.L. Rowse’s exposé of Homosexuals in History and Mary Renault’s historical novels. Such reading inspired this poem, which was my first sonnet.

Are Poems Still Allowed to Rhyme?

A contributor to a literary magazine enquires, ‘Are poems still allowed to rhyme?’

John Whitworth

John Whitworth is one of those fattish, baldish, backward-looking, provincial poets in which England is so rich (perhaps too rich). His ninth collection, Being the Bad Guy, was published by Peterloo in November 2007. Les Murray likes it. Good on him. You might also consider Writing Poetry published by A & C Black, one of those how-to books; it has run to a second