I’m delighted that Prole have accepted two poems ‘No Prizes’ and ‘The Invisible Man’ for the forthcoming issue. Prole is a real favourite of mine and I’m so grateful to editors Brett Evans and Phil Robertson.

My contribution to local poet Barry Wood’s initiative to collate a series of six-line stanzas into a continuous poem about the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hot on the heels of yesterday’s acceptance, I’m delighted to have had three poems accepted for Dreich Magazine Issue 6 due to be published in the autumn. Thank you editor Jack Caradoc.

I’m really pleased to have had another poem accepted by Eunoia Review for publication in mid-May. I’ve submitted to this lovely webzine for a number of years. It’s based in Malaysia and attracts poetry from writers around the world. Grateful thanks as always to editor Ian Chung.

Pleased to have a poem ‘Detention’ in this just-published book, put together in record time by poet Janine Booth. Available to buy as an e-book, and very soon available in print. Myself and many other poets in the book will be foregoing any royalties, which will be used to support charity. Here’s the link: https://books2read.com/u/3LDE0J

On another difficult day for the world, my poem ‘Bus Stop Etiquette’ was published by Ink, Sweat & Tears, one of my favourite sites. Thank you Helen Ivory.

Bus Stop Etiquette

We roll up piecemeal, shuffled rush-hour
pack in all weathers; fix envious glares
into underoccupied kerbcrawl cars
blaring rock, pop, classical, duh-duh-duh
dance and dumbass ads. It’s Britain

so we queue; eyecontactless, heads bowed
into mobiles like bibles among eavesdroppers
alert for you’ll never guess news; so I turned 
round & said braggadocio, grandparent
gloats, death and health-obsessed drama.

One eye out for the 432, the other on gatecrashers
lurking to gazump our too-shocked-to-say
chorus line; its well-rehearsed lean to the left,
arms outstretched in synchrony, body language
as one chanting thou shalt not pass.

Delighted to have two poems up at Good Dadhood, a wonderful site edited by Sharon Larkin. Tributes to me late gentle, endlessly creative father. https://gooddadhood.com/2020/03/06/two-poems-by-paul-waring/

My poem ‘Unfinished’ is part of this month’s London Grip. As always, it features an excellent line-up of poets and poems. Grateful thanks to editor, Michael Bartholomew-Biggs. https://londongrip.co.uk/2020/02/london-grip-new-poetry-spring-2020/

Mat Riches’ review of my pamphlet ‘Quotidian’ is up at Sphinx. I couldn’t have hoped for more insightful, positive, first words about my debut pamphlet. Thank you Mat, I’m incredibly grateful. https://sphinxreview.co.uk/index.php/943-paul-waring-quotidian

I read at the 2020 Wirral Poetry Festival launch last night in West Kirby. Lovely words of introduction from festival organiser Judy Ugonna, wonderfully compered by Steve Regan and fine readings from poets on the theme of ‘Spirit Of The North’. Thanks to Ali Harwood for this photo.