The Land of Grimney - The Illustrated Adventures of Cora Pearl, aged 12

Wow, it's amazing having just posted about my favourite poets to see so much similar thinking. Big shout out to Blake and Walter De La Mare fans. My mum still does that - if it all goes quiet in the house she'll say: 'Is there anybody there...? Said the traveller.'

Love A Poison Tree as well.

The power of poems tends to depend on individual significance: where you heard them, when, why etc.

For me, the most powerfully affecting poem I have ever heard isn't anything particularly novel. It's simply the Ode of Remembrance.

My great grandfather remained with the War Graves Commission in Ypres after he was injured. Helped found Poelcapelle cemetery. Died aged 40 from the conditions. We reintered him in 2005 from the town cemetery to the adjoining military one - three generations: nana, dad, my aunt and myself.

I recently drove over to Poland and stopped off en route - first time I'd tried to find him on my own, took me half the day. But I stayed there, had a chat with him. It was strange, one day standing amidst the young lads who never made it home to Britain, the next standing with the young East German lads, commemorated only by a plaque in their local churchyard.

When I pass through Ypres, I stop at the Menin Gate for the Last Post. After they play the Last Post, they always read the Ode of Remembrance. The atmosphere is just unbelievable. Every single night of every single year there is a crowd there. Young, old. They appear for 20 minutes then disperse. That poem, for me, just brings a lump to my throat every time. The embodiment of so much loss, so much heartbreak. A gritty reminder that we're here through sheer luck, and the bravery of others.

Aaaaand, happy face

Yeah. I think it's just the one I remember most.

Here's a video of the Last Post beneath the Menin Gate.



Every single night of the year.

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Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia. - E. L. Doctorow