Historical Influences in Poetry

Time takes the blame for every ruin. At Helmsley, somebody gave the order. Last week we stood on the East Cliff at Whitby. This week we go inland, to a market town on the southern edge of the North York Moors, where the River Rye comes down out of the hills, and to a castle that was broken on purpose. There are two poems here. The first is more than four hundred years old and is spoken by a city that has vanished. The second is my own, about Helmsley Castle, from North Yorksh

Two ruins by water. Poe's drowned city fell silent; Whitby Abbey never did. A Whitby Abbey poem, Poe's The City in the Sea, and a craft question for anyone who writes about place.

Around a hundred and thirty lead tablets were dropped into the hot spring at Bath, asking a goddess for justice. She never answered. They survived anyway. The reason why is the most useful thing I know about writing loss. Two thousand years ago, someone stood at the edge of a steaming pool in Somerset, scratched a message into a thin sheet of lead, and dropped it into the water. The message wasn't a prayer of any grandeur. Somebody had taken their cloak from the bath-house. T

Two hundred years ago a farm labourer watched surveyors draw lines across the common ground he loved. What he did next is the most useful thing I know about how to write a place. Here is the idea underneath everything below, and it turns out to be the whole reason I write any of this down. Nothing here is waiting for us. That is exactly what makes it worth the looking. Somerset In Verse — Exmoor To Levels In Poetry opens on that principle, in a poem whose title is deliberatel

The fourth volume in British Counties In Verse arrives in paperback on Amazon on 3rd September 2026. Here is what it is, how it was written, and why it does not sound like the books that came before it. An illustrated image of Glastonbury Tor Somerset In Verse - Exmoor To Levels In Poetry There is an outcrop of limestone on a Mendip hillside holding four hundred million years of pressure. I had walked over it in my head perhaps a hundred times. That is where Somerset In Verse

What does a poet do with a place that can’t be saved, can’t be celebrated, and will not recover? A place the world has simply finished with? Because there is a strong temptation, writing a poem like Cleator Moor, to flinch at the last moment. To reach for the redemptive ending. To find the wildflower growing in the rubble, the child laughing in the empty square, the green shoot that promises the town will rise again. We are trained to want that. We feel that a poem owes its

Cornwall’s dramatic coastlines and deep-rooted history have long inspired artists and writers. Among these, poetry stands out as a powerful way to capture the spirit of this unique region. Through verse, poets bring to life the wild seas, ancient landmarks, and the character of Cornwall’s people. This post explores how poetry reveals Cornwall’s landscapes and heritage, with insights from the British Counties In Verse collection, showing why Cornwall remains a rich source of p

Alden Carrow - British Counties In Verse. The rich tapestry of British counties has long been a source of inspiration for poets and writers. Each county, with its unique landscapes, history, and culture, offers a distinct flavour that fuels creativity. From the rolling hills of Yorkshire to the rugged coasts of Cornwall, poetry about British counties captures the essence of these places in verse. This article explores how these counties inspire poetic creations, the significa

Alden Carrow - British Counties In Verse. The rich tapestry of British counties offers more than just scenic landscapes and historic landmarks. Each county holds a unique story, a cultural essence that poets have captured through the ages. Exploring the poetry of British counties reveals a world where nature, history, and local life intertwine in verse. This journey invites readers to experience the charm and character of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland through

Poetry has long been a powerful medium to capture the essence of place, culture, and history. In the United Kingdom, each county offers a unique landscape, heritage, and spirit that poets have celebrated for centuries.

Alden Carrow - British Counties In Verse. North Yorkshire is a land rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. From the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales to the rugged coastline of Whitby, this region has inspired countless writers and poets. One unique way to explore this heritage is through prose poems. These short, lyrical pieces blend the narrative style of prose with the emotional depth of poetry. In this blog post, we will uncover how prose poems can help us disco