Poetry blog

We keep you updated on the world of poetry with our news roundups.

Recent posts

James Montgomery Poems

 

James Montgomery was a Scottish-born poet and hymnodist who spent much of his life, and is widely commemorated in, the English county of Yorkshire.  He had deeply philanthropic views on the abolition of slavery and of the practice of forcing children into dangerous jobs such as sweeping chimneys. He was born on the 4th November 1771 in Ayrshire which lies in the south western ...

James Joseph Sylvester Poems

 

James Joseph Sylvester FRS was primarily a renowned 19th century English mathematician, scientist and academic but it is also on record that one of his lifetime passions was poetry.  Many of his published papers on mathematical matters contain poetic quotes and he spent a great deal of time both reading and translating classical pieces written in Latin and Greek, along with poetry ...

James Jeffrey Roche Poems

 

James Jeffrey Roche was an Irish-born American poet.  Towards the end of his life he served his government in the diplomatic service as American consul to Switzerland.  In his earlier days, living in Boston, he earned a living as a journalist. He was born on the 31st May 1847 in Mountmellick, in Queen"s County.  The family emigrated to Canada shortly afterwards and young James grew ...

Ugandan Poetry Prize Nomination/Whittier Celebrated/ Bengaluru Poetry Festival – Poetry News Roundup 7th August

 

With the global nature of poetry continually changing, here we have 3 news stories from across the globe: Ugandan poet shortlisted for award It is often thought that some of the greatest poetry is borne from great suffering, and it seems that the old adage is true for at least one poet, Nick Makoha, who has used his experience of the horrific nature of ...

Belarussian Poetry Collection/Celebratory Stamp/Malawian Poet – Poetry News Roundup Aug 4th

 

In our last news round-up of the week we bring you a poetry collection from a Belarussian poet, a commemorative stamp for an Irish poet and a vibrant Malawian poet who is celebrating 6 years of poetry in the public eye. New Poetry Collection for Belarussian Professor Valzhyna Mort, a Belarussian poet who currently lives in the USA has just released her new book ...

James Lionel Michael Poems

 

James Lionel Michael was a 19th century, English-born Australian poet and lawyer. He was born some time during October 1824 in London, the son of a solicitor.  It seems that he had little interest in education despite the professional status of his father and he left school at the age of 15.  His parents then made sure that he received private tuition and he ...

James Lister Cuthbertson Poems

 

James Lister Cuthbertson was a Scottish-born Australian poet and much-loved school master. He was born on the 8th May 1851 in Glasgow. As he went through his school years at Trinity College in the Perthshire town of Glenalmond he had ambitions to join the Indian Civil Service. To achieve this he needed to pass certain entrance examinations which were available to him at ...

The passing of Geoffrey Godbert – Poetry News 3rd Aug

 

Today at My Poetic Side we bring you news of the death of Geoffrey Godbert, a poet and one of the co-founders of Greville Press. Poet and co-founder of the Greville Press passes away Geoffrey Godbert, who was a co-founder and joint editor of the Greville Press with fellow poet Anthony Astbury and the novelist Harold Pinter, has passed away at the age of ...

James Lord Pierpont Poems

 

James Lord Pierpont  was a prolific 19th century American poet, songwriter and musician whose major claim to fame is a song that is still sung at Christmas time all over the world.  It is popularly known as Jingle Bells and almost everyone who has sung a Christmas song knows at least the chorus.  Pierpont’s original title for this poem, later turned into a ...

James Madison Bell Poems

 

James Madison Bell was an African-American poet who lived at a turbulent time in the history of the United States, his life spanning three quarters of the 19th century and just spilling over into the 20th.  He was actively involved in the growing movement to abolish slavery and his oratory and written words were powerful tools used in this struggle. He was born on the 3rd ...