Written poetry is different. Best thing is to see it in performance first, then read it. Performance is more provocative.

Written poetry is different. Best thing is to see it in performance first, then read it. Performance is more provocative.

The maiden Olympics had more to protest about than mere war, though. Central to its ethos was a rejection of two establishments the political one, certainly, but also that of the wider poetry world itself. It changed poetry for ever in the UK, ... It led to readings all over the country. You suddenly got more women reading and publishing poems, as well as gay guys and poets from all over the world. Until that time, published poetry had been very university-based white, male, middle-class. We were trying to break poetry out of its academic confines.

I use rock and jazz and blues rhythms because I love that music. I hope my poetry has a relationship with good-time rock'n roll.

There have always been poets who performed. Blake sang his Songs of Innocence and Experience to parties of friends.

I want to speak, to sing to total strangers. It's my way of talking to the world.

Stadium rock and commercial rock are the opposite of what poetry needs. An audience of around 200 is ideal for poetry.