Happy National Poetry Day, as it is in the UK, and here’s a taster video of episode 10, Season 1, of Poetry Pause podcast, which I co-create with my pal, historian Emma Baines.

Am very aware that not everyone likes poetry and shares our addiction, but I aim to persuade you now and then over the next few months, that a poetry habit can be helpful for mental wellbeing, as well as an excellent workout for writing skills.

Getting into the poetry writing groove can help with clarity, brevity, vividness and writing metaphorically. It’s like shining a tiny, very bright torch into what may be a foggy dark mental cave… well that’s how we see it anyway…

If you’ve any poets you love, or particular poems which inspire you – as ever – would love to hear your recommendations.