U. A. Fanthorpe

Where once I was intimidated by Seamus Heaney’s brilliance, these days I am inspired by the poets I love — W. N. Herbert, U. A. Fanthorpe, Sean O’Brien, Kathleen Jamie, Don Paterson, John Glenday. They show me the possibilities of poetry.

'Perhaps your subject went away; the war ended; you moved from your special place; the poet of youth grew old, or became Poet Laureate.'