Poems are portable gifts. We can carry them with us in books, on our devices, in our memory and in our heart.

Reading poems can help us on our journeys through life. And writing them helps both the writer and the reader of the work.

So, readers, writers, and pilgrims of all kinds, this is an invitation to explore what might be your poems for your path ahead.

I’m excited to be developing this new UK-wide poetry project. So far we’ve had workshops in a cathedral in England and in a consecrated cave in Scotland. The most recent event was a residential poetry retreat, The Thread You Follow, in March 2024, co-led by Demelza Henderson. Here are a few comments from the feedback forms:

• Wonderful to experience quality time away from the busyness of daily life, to be with like-minded people sharing a new experience

  The poetry sessions – structure and content, pace and activities – all were designed with such care and led with such skill, thoughtfulness and generosity. I gained so much from each session and I have an abundance of gifts (ideas, energy, etc) that I am carrying away with me.

• I found the atmosphere, fellowship, the inclusivity and honesty and love absolutely wonderful!

• Helen said she aimed for ‘abundance’ and that’s what we got – thank you! So much to take away and feed from.

The March retreat had such a long waiting list that we’re running it again in November – more information and links on the events page of this website.

If you’d like to be among the first to know more about any aspect of the project, please drop me an email or fill in the contact form with the subject line Join Poems for the path ahead mailing list, and I’ll be in touch.

Watch this space…