The Sealey Challenge

Book 30: ‘Defying Gravity’ by Roger McGough 

It's the penultimate Sealey Day - 29 poetry books read and only two - under the guise of the Sealey Challenge - to go. And what better poet to turn to to maintain the marvel of verse so far explored than a Roger McGough collection. 'Defying Gravity' is filled with oblique looks at society, many with great humour, some, like the titular poem, poignant with sadness. This year's reading has once again been marked by the quality of books I have been able to gather together to read in the challenge, this one from the world famous Cinema Bookshop in Hay-on-Wye.  

Brilliant collection. 

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Book 29: 'What' by John Cooper Clarke 

With his customary inimitable style and panache, JCC delivers another stream of pacy poetic consciousness with hilarious consequences occasionally interrupted by searing social commentary. As always, his rhyme and rhythm is fast and furious, longer commentaries p followed by very short verse such as ‘Lydia’ and ‘Necrophilia’, the latter, he suggests, to be the cure to what is described in the first! I found myself laughing out loud at times!  

Brilliant - a definite highlight amongst many highlights in this years

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Book 28:  ‘Plum’ by Hollie McNish 

Wise, funny, rude and totally enjoyable collection from a thoroughly modern poet. I listened to Hollie read her own poems which are fas5-paced and sharp in her observations in poems she wrote as a child and now as an adult. Covering a wide range of subjects affecting girls as they grow into women, it’s an absorbing and enlightening listen.  

Superb. 

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Book 27: ‘Let the Light Pour In’ by Lemn Sissay 

The result of a ten year experiment by Lemm Sissay, this is a collection of quatrains written at dawn each day, which read like motivation poems, which have been posted on his ‘socials’ each day. Very popular reading for followers. I have enjoyed reading them though I’ve found some of the content of poems strangely disconnected between the opening two lines and those ending the poems. There’s humour and sensitivity in the words and are thought provoking— the kind of poetry book to open and read at any page and get a little lift of energy.  

A good addition to my Sealey Challenge reading. 

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Book 26: 'Sailing Alone Around the Room' by Billy Collins 

By another of my favourite poet laureates, this is a mix of new and selected poems from the master of irony, poeically turning the world upside down as he writes to give a differetn, often surprising and humorous perspective. So pleased to include a Billy Collins, collection in this year's Sealey Challenge.

Outstanding poetry.

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Book 25:  ‘Through the Square Window’ by Sinéad Morrissey 

Mix childhood and philosophers with architecture and Lewis Carroll and what do you get? You get this collection, her fourth, by Sinéad Morrissey, often vibrant, sometimes sombre, always realistic look at life, particularly early life and its consequences. ‘Vanity Fair’ is an amusing letter to William Dobbin from Amelia Sedley; while ‘York’ is a found poem of the York Mystery plays naming city guilds and the parts they put on in the plays. The collection is a fascinating study of the stages of life from birth to after-life to a soundtrack of fairground music, ‘The Clangers’ and a cathedral choir.  

Extraordinary poetry. 

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Book 24: ‘Poems About The Ocean’ by Eleanor Rayne 

Illustrated beautifully, each poem takes the reader to the sea. The opening poem, ‘Words’ likens the act of writing a poem to the sea: “Your words are coral, / Your paper is the white sand bed” which seems an appropriate launching point for a book of poems about the ocean. Each situation beautifully describes a link to waves and storms, shipwrecks and trawlers, sea spray of emotions scatter onto us bringing the occasional tear to the cheek. 

I love the sea, being by it, on it, over it and have looked forward to reading this collection and I’m not disappointed, it’s an engaging look at the ocean with subtle illustrations. The only thing wrong, is that I’m not at the seaside while I read it!

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Book 23: 'Dwell’ by Simon Armitage

I am privileged to have heard much of the ‘Dwell’ collection, read by Simon Armitage him at this years Hay Literary Festival, and have been looking forward to savouring the delights of, what I know is, a brilliant collection of poetry. From the humorous delight of ‘Insect Hotel’ to ‘Den’, a homage to the fox as well as fellow poet and laureate, Ted Hughes, who similarly wrote famously about the creature. 

A project to annotate the habitats in the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall, the collection begins strikingly with ‘Pond’ to then reveal the first of many beautiful illustrations by Beth Munro which make this a magical literary art experience.

Marvellous collection to read as well.

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Book 22: 'Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass' by Lana Del Ray 

Immersive, personal, intense reflections by Lana Del Rey, better known as US singer songwriter, ‘Violet Bending…’ is a collection of her explorations of her living the life she does, sometimes wild, sometimes contemplating what it would be like to live differently. Enjoyable contemporary poetry, beautifully accompanied by a mellow soundtrack. 

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Book 21: ‘Many Miles: Mary Oliver reads Nary Oliver’ by Mary Oliver  

More observations of the natural world wrapped in the poetic narrative of Mary Oliver. A beautiful short collection. 

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Book 20: ‘The Forward Book of Poetry 2025’ by Various Poets 

One of the reasons I enjoy taking part in the Sealey Challenge is how it gives the opportunity to seek new poets to read alongside favourites. This year I have included a number of Latin American poets to the list of collections: Neruda and Lorca among them. I also like to look for new contemporary poets and the Forward Prize’s anthology is always a good way to pursue this aim. This year’s is no different with a wealth of thoughtprovoking poetry that takes in nature and the human spirit, takes the reader around the world and raises questions about issues affecting people in their daily lives. Poignant, intense with a sprinkling of humour amongst the selcetions, such as, in Tammy Lai-Ming Ho's 'Love Poem with typos' contrasted a page later with Rebecca Hurst's evocative 'Dark Peak' just two to highlight.  

With a poetic Forword by chair of judges Craig Charles, it is an excellent addition to the Forward Prize shelves. 

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Book 19: ‘Melting into the Foreground’ by Roger McGough

I've barely got to page 15 and I'm already Anther of my favourite poets, Roger McGough never ceases to amaze with his sharp, acerbic observations of life, often of his own past (as in some of these, such as, 'Hearts and Flowers' which tells of the life and death of Auntie Marge - whether a real auntie or not doesn't really matter - such is the sensititvity he speaks of her, he is very fond of her). 

Then he takes us further into his oblique vies of the world with the hilarious advice that 'Today is Not a Day for Adultery'; followed by 'Prayer to Saint Grobianus', which includes such a wealth of obscure words to describe 'coarse people' that you'd think they were made up. BUt again, hilarious!

It's a lovely book too, has '(1987)' in penscil in the corner of the first page; it has pages that are turning sepia and turning pages wafts that musty smell that can only  come from old books. I think this one came from a National Trust secondhand bookshop, a frequent source for my poetry collection.

A sometimes sensitive and poignant, always readable and full of humour collection. Superb. 

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Book 18:  'Cautionary Verses’ by Hilaire Belloc 

From Jim meeting an unfortunate end because he let go of his ‘nurse’s hand’ in the first poem, this collection of classic moralistic misadventures is as entertaining as it is shocking: shocking because it seems there is no limit to the misfortunes that Belloc subjects his poetry children to! The verses are classically rhyming, language and contexts reflect his wealthy origins, but the poems are certainly striking compositions and fun situations.  

A delightful addition to this years #thesealeychallenge. 

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Book 17: ‘The Heeding'  by Rob Cowen 

Rob Cowen’s book ‘Common Ground’ is one of my favourite books on nature that I read in June 2019, two years before this collection was written and, as it happens, less than a year before the pandemic that affected the world and which is the context behind which this book is written. From the off, it is striking, with the dramatic illustration by Nick Hayes, who collaboratrd in the production of ‘The Heeding’, of a swooping hawk to accompany ‘Duel’, a poem about the hawk overcoming a rat. Both ‘Common Ground’ and ‘The Heeding’ are books about nature, the struggle of nature’s survival against the mounting pressure from a world of over-population and demand for resources that is out of balance with its availability; supply often adversely affecting the world as its ‘supplier’. ‘Duel’ seems a fitting beginning to the collection, as a symbol of the ‘duel’ between planet and human inhabitants as well as, living through the COVID pandemic.  

Sometimes reflecting the sadness of that time but Rob Cowen always seems to wrap this sadness, like in ‘The Pact’, in observations of nature and a sense of optimism that we now realise was what helped us come through that life changing event. ‘Dennis’ tells the story of another’s life changing event that sent shivers down my spine when seeing the image that accompanied the poem.  

An extraordinary, brilliant book, as stylish and charged with emotion as it is impactful. 

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Book 16: ‘At Blackwater Pond: Mary Oliver reads Mary Oliver’ by Mary Oliver 

‘Some Herons’ described as. preachers begin the collection, in diversity including ‘Beans’, ‘Swans’ and the tiny ear-bone from a pilot whale, apparently the  longest lasting part of. Dead creature which Mary Oliver here likens to the soul.  

This is xx the first full collection of her poems I’ve read and I’m now wondering why it’s taken this long to pick up one of her books to read. Beautifully written and thought provoking that sets her poetry apart. 

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Book 15: ‘Mean Time’ by Carol Ann Duffy 

I've resisted long enough! Time for another of my favourite poet laureates: Carol Ann Duffy. ‘mean Times’ is her fourth collection and is full of memories of childhood and growing up, a compelling selection of situations brought to life by her piercing gaze and eye for detail. 'The Good Teachers' reminds me of my own school experiences , of teachers liked and 'the others' (my inverted commas). 'Valentine' is a superb 'love poem'? 

Superbly entertaining and insightful.

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Book 14: ‘The Luckiest Guy Alive’ by John Cooper Clarke 

The so-styled ‘Emperor of Punk Poetry’ is at his irreverent, penetrative and hilarious best with this collection, from bullet-fast, bullet-point, haikus to ‘The Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman’, this is as entertaining a collection as he has produced so far. 

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Book 13: ‘Blossomised’ by Simon Armitage  

Spoiler alert: if you don’t want to read again my opinions of the genius of Simon Armitage, how his surgical observations are woven with wit into beautiful imagery, then look away now, because that’s what I’m about to do! 

If you have followed my readings for #thesealeychallenge over the years, you will know if my love of reading the poems of the Poet Laureate and ‘Blossomise’ is no exception. I heard him read a couple of these poems at the Hay Festival this year and in his Yorkshire drawl his humour and sensitivity comes through. Ten poems, eleven haiku, beautifully illustrated by printmaker Angela Harding and this is a pleasure to read and to pull down from the bookshelf to read again and again. Highlights for me: ‘Old Jaguar parked’, ‘Blossom: a CV’ 

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  Book 12:  

'Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair' by Pablo Neruda 

Beautiful, emotional, intense, often erotic, this is one of the most acclaimed and celebrated collections of love poetry. Pablo Neruda’s writing is full of passion whether for lost love or the love at a moment. He sweeps through poems with power and grace in equal measure.  

A marvel of Latin American poetry. 

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  Book 11: ‘Poetry: a Very Short Introduction' by Bernard O'Donoghue 

Today, I discovered this book, 'Poetry: A Very Short Introduction' on my Spotify account and, because I was driving much of the day, decided, for a change, I'd read 'about' poetry, rather than reading poems. I found this a really interesting and enlightening book, not only is it a 'short' introduction, it is also a 'simple' introduction, not focused on the technicalities of writing poetry, but more interested (and interesting) in answering questions of why write poetry and, what makes poetry, what makes a poet; and poetry genres.  Illustrated with passages from some of histories greatest poets, this is an excellent book for anyone wanting to learn more about poetry in general without being hit by ionic pentametre, sonnet structure, rhythm and metre. Yes, there is some technical language being used, but I found that terms and concepts are explained well as part of the text. 

Also available in paperback and on Kindle. 

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  Book 10: ‘Lupercal’ by Ted Hughes  

While I’ve been collecting poetry books to read during this year’s challenge, I realised that I hadn’t read a whole collection of poems by Ted Hughes, a fellow Yorkshire poet, born in Mytholmroyd, in Calderdale. I decided to put this right and have 3 of his collections, potentially, to read this summer. (I say ‘potentially’ as I have more books than are needed for the 31 days, so choices are being made and anything unread this year will remain ‘in-hand’ for next year). 

While Hughes, in the volume,  doesn’t give an explanation for the collections title, it appears to be associated with the Roman god of fertility, Lupercus. The  name, ‘Lupercalia’ is also known as the Feast of Lupercal as well as the name given to the cave where Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome were alleged to have been nurtured by a she-wolf. Hence, many of the poems in this collection relate to nature, animals and, specifically, wolves (‘February’ and ‘Lupercalia’). 

At times entertaining, at all times fascinating, Ted Hughes is a poet for all times!  

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  Book 9: ‘Morning Glory on the Vine: Early Songs and Drawings’ by Joni Mitchell 

I have been looking forward to reading this unusual choice for #thesealeychallenge; unusual because it is a book of lyrics from early Joni Mitchell songs, accompanied by her drawings. Joni Mitchell is one of my favourite singer/songwriters to listen to; I’ve been listening to her work for nearly fifty years: I even saw her, a tiny speck on a Birmingham Arena in the early 80s— the power of her songs more than making up for how diminutive she looked from our vantage point. It is the quality of her lyrics that draws me to listen to her; they tell stories; they are poetic. So, the chance to read her songs as poems is appealing. In the same way we accept that ‘every picture has its story’, well, according to Joni Mitchell: “Every picture has its shadows/And it has some source of light” (from the 1975 song: ‘Shadows and Light’)  

What a brilliant line to finish the first poem: ‘The Fishbowl’ - “I think he winked at me!“ This is followed by ‘Woodstock’ one of my favourite songs of hers and, of course, iconic as it is about the Woodstock festival in 1969. 'Tempting', which seems to be an ode to calories, is funny and cleverly written: "Just like Adam, Madam". 

And, of course, the brilliant ‘Both Sides Now’, ‘River’, ‘A Case of You’ and so many more! Beautiful book, drawings and words.   

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  Book 8:  ‘We Sail Paper Boats’ Foyle Young Poets of the Year Anthology 2025 The Poetry Society  

I enjoy reading what the poets of the future are writing now as successful entrants to the Foyle Young Poets of the Year. This anthology is published every year and I tend to keep it for the Sealey Challenge. IT includes the top 15 poems of the competition which are full of imaginative ideas. I particularly enjoyed 'A Ballad for Cleo' by Juliana Xinwen Pan and Rina Olsen's 'self-portrait as a dead deer', 

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  Book 7: 'Alfonsina and the Sea: Selected Poems of Alfonsina Storni and Poems'  by Alfonsina Storni

Beautiful, emotional and intense, this is a marvellous collection of one of Argentina’s most loved poets. Alfonsina writes about love, nature and the human condition in poetry that is imaginative and rich in imagery.  

I have discovered the delights of Latin American writers with Jorge Luis Borges and Gabriel Garcia Marquez and want to explore more poets during this years challenge, Alfonsina being the first, painting beautiful images such as: ‘On this divine October evening / I’d like to walk along the distant shore; / so that the golden sands, pure skies / and green waters should see me go by’ from ‘Pain’.

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  Book 6:  ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul’ by William Blake 

Told in two parts: the first of ‘innocence’, the second of ‘experience’ this is a collection giving two views of society on the poet’s time. In ‘Songs of Innocence’, Blake gives life idyllic natural settings though not immune to exploitation. ‘Songs of Experience’ shows the real world filled with social, economic and religious difficulties overseen by church, monarch and wealth, ‘The Little Vagabond’ being a clear critique of the church.  

The language and concepts are of his time, a time of much social change, and a worthy collection. 

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  Book 5: ‘The Universal Home Doctor’ by Simon Armitage 

Today, I turned to one of my favourite poets, the Poet Laureate, who didn’t disappoint with this 2002 collection full of dry wit and descriptive imagery in poems such as ‘All For One’ in which he tussles with his own errant mind which lives a life of its own; and ‘The Hard’; beautifully detailed views of beach and sea: “between low tide and dry land, the country of sand,/but the moon is law …” 

A highly entertaining collection that delves into personal journeys and considerations of the body, the politic and the home . 

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 Book 4: ‘Chlorophyll’ by Raymond Luczak 

Poems about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula which is not somewhere I’m likely to visit but the poems introduce a place rich in nature and impressive landscapes. Full of metaphor and simile to conjure imagery to represent the peninsula, this is a compelling free verse collection with the occasional sprouting of rhyme (for example, in ‘Moonlight’ with its tight rhymes referencing art works in its story). 

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Book 3: ‘Sailing to an Island’ by Richard Murphy

At one of the bookshops in Hay-on-Wye, when at the Hay Literary Festival, I bought this used copy of a Faber ‘paper covered’ 1968 edition, sent out for review with the original note from Faber still intact. Telling of storms and fishing hardship, Irish island life, this is an entertaining collection for anyone enjoying tales of the sea. Scattered imagery like flotsam in the poems is treasure to collect, such as: 

in an elegy to his grandmother Lucy, he says: “in the lake of her heart we were islands”; and, in a poem offered ‘For Wittgenstein’, he says: “His wisdom widens: he becomes worlds/Where thoughts are wings …”

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Book 2: ‘No Matter How It Ends A Blackbird’s Song’ by Kal Lehmann 

’No Matter How It Ends A Blackbird’s Song’ is a thoughtful, thought provoking collection of contemporary haiku, challenging the reader to make connections, some more easily seen than others, such as ‘Clinic’ which combines  structure as well as words to tell its story.

Stirs the imagination with interesting imagery.

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Book 1: The Forward Book of Poetry 2024 

Welcome back The Sealey Challenge! I’ve been looking forward to your return for … oh, about 11 months, give or take! Why read the 2024 edition of the Forward prize? Well, I’ve read previous editions as during previous challenges. I also have the 2025 edition saved for later in the month. Why the Forward prize in the first place? Because the anthologies give a marvellous insight into what contemporary poets are writing now (and in this case, speaking, as a prize for spoken poetry is introduced for the first in 2024. I love the ‘autobiographical’(?) nature of ‘bormed’ (though couldn’t find a meaning for the word other than ‘it could be dialectal for "smear with paint, oil, etc.’ which kinda fits) by Elizabeth Sennit Clough: “their prints/in castrol gtx over the back-kitchen door” and the celebrated return of basking sharks in Jane Clarke’s ‘Purteen Harbour”. Kizziah Burton’s ‘Oh, Do You know The Flower Man’ is a floral joy! 

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