Wednesday, 25 June 2025

All 5 Books (The Collected Poems 2000 - 2025) is Published.

 ANNOUNCING THE PUBLICATION OF ALL 5 BOOKS.

 

I have received a copy of the Collected Poems 2000 - 2025, and I am very happy with it.

All 5 Poems (The Collected Poems 2000 - 2025) is available as a hardback on Amazon. 

To see it press here  ALL 5 Books  


This book is a record of the poems I have written over this period, and also contains an essay I wrote for Agends Magazine. 



Thursday, 19 June 2025

Writing CV

When I first started submitting poems to magazines etc I kept a list / record as a kind of writing CV. I thought it would be interesting to make it available here.

Note that after 2016, when The Onslsught Press began publishing collections of my poetry and I felt that I no longer needed it, I ceased making entrys on this record.

 

Alan John Stubbs Writing History:


1st Published (Poetry Monthly) Poem: Out there

No fee just free cop of mag that I gave to Mum and Dad.


Published in the poetry collection: Into a Gathering. Editor Terry Jones

published by Cumbria Community Arts Project. 2004 Poems: Bog Man

                                                                                           Ivy


Finalist in Mirehouse Poetry Competition 2007. Poem: Begin Judge: Ruth Padel

(Prizewinner - £100 of books)


Shortlisted Bridport Poetry Competition 2008  Judge: David Harsent 2 Poems Growth and Socks.


Commended Arvon International Poem: a philosophical provocation

Poetry Competition 2008

Prize £500 awarded by Andrew Motion Judges Andrew Motion, Moniza Ali, Alice Oswald


Published Poetry Review - Volume 99:1 Spring 2009. Psycho-geographies. 

Poem: A Body Of Ice Is Hot. To see press here Poetry Review Spring 2009

 Editor Fiona Sampson


Commended: Kent and Sussex Poetry Competition Poem: Time Judge Penelope Shuttle.

March 2009


Published Poetry Review - Volume 100:1 Spring 2010. Poem: Oedipus

 Editor Fiona Sampson. To see press here Poetry Review 100:1


Published Poetry Review - Volume 100:4 Winter 2010. Poem: Unknown

Editor Fiona Sampson. To see press here Poetry Review 100:4 Winter 2010


Published The Rialto - Volume 70 Poem: Broad Street

Editor Michael Mackmin


Shortlisted in Bridport Prize 2010 Poem: beyond crack willow 'pip'

Judge Michael Laskey.


Poetry Reading at Carlisle college on 1st November 2010, 11.30 - 12.15, Read Broad Street, A Philosophical Provocation, To Ithaca, and On the Days.

Free of Charge



Poetry Reading on 1st March 2011 - At Chigwell (Public) School - Essex

 Theme : What is Poetry for?

- read to age-groups 11 - 13 years

                             14 - 16 years

                      and  17 - 18 years


Published Poetry Review Volume 101:2 Summer 2011 Poem: a philosophical provocation

Editor Fiona Sampson.  To see press here Poetry Review Summer 2011



Published AgendaVol 45 no 4/ vol 46 / 1 May 2011 Poems: 'Woken', and

'there are four boats and her'.  To see press here Agenda Dwelling Places Contents

Editor: Patricia McCarthy


Published Agenda Website May 2011 Article on John Burnside.  

Read here Essay Reading Burnside Go down to page 19 for my essay.

 See Agenda Supplements here Agenda Supplements

 

Published Poetry Review Volume 102:1 Spring 2012 Poem: 'the slight curved feather'

Editor: Fiona Sampson. To see press here Poetry Review Spring 2012


Published Carillon Magazine (Dec 2012.) Poems: 1st November 2012

Havana Scene

Editor: Graham Rippon


Published The Cannon's Mouth magazine Poem: Circa sus partes en mi paisaje

(Dec 2012) Editor: Greg Cox


Published Dreamcatcher Magazine Poem: As they dance.

(2014)


Published The Cannon's Mouth Magazine Poem: begin

(2014)


Published The Cannon's Mouth June 2015 Poem:The First to pass was


Published Carillon Autumn / Winter 2015 Poem: Trypich.


Published first Collection The Lost Box of Eyes Editor Mathew Staunton. 

See here The Lost Box of Eyes

Forward by Fiona Sampson Back page blog – Marion McCready.


Published Cumberland News April 2016 

Poem:  Broad Street.



Published in the Book: To Kingdom Come -  Published by The Onslaught Press.

                                            Poems:

                                            The first to pass was

                                            what are you having

                                            afghans housing crisis

                                            reflections

                                            Drones

                                            States

Editor: Rethabile Masilo

See here To Kingdom Come

Published in International Magazine POEM. June 2016

                     Poems:

                    Ivy

                    After the fall

                    SF Soft Dissolve.

See here International Magazine POEM June 2016


Published in The Journal (once of contemporary Anglo-Scandinavian Poetry)

Issue 48 (June 2016)     Poems:

                                     In the waiting room

                                     Where


News and Star newspaper 25th June 2016

                                    Poem:

                                    Perfect (old shoes)


Although I have continued to be published occassionaly in magazines (most notably in Obsessed with Pipework and The Dawntreader), I am afraid that I have not continued to update this record beyond 2016.

Monday, 9 June 2025

Proof of 'All 5 Books' , the collected poems 2015 - 2025 received.

 I am excited to receive the proof copy of All 5 Books ready for checking and correcting. 

Within the next two weeks book this should be ready.  

I have had an initial read and apart from some spacing issues, one new page marker needed, and a couple of spelling corrections, it looks good. I am very pleased with the look of the book, the front and back covers, the illustrations in 'when she is winter', and the fonts etc..


Very Best.




Saturday, 7 June 2025

When she is winter ebook launched.

 I have now launched an ebook (kindle) version of my latest collection 'when she is winter'. 

Competitively priced and Available on Amazon now.

Very Best.




Tuesday, 3 June 2025

The First 5 Books Collected Together

 I am beginning to prepare a collected book of poems comprising the poems from the 5 published books 'The Lost Box of Eyes', 'ident', 'tomorrow is the tugboat of today', 'sound about hot', and 'when she is winter'. 

I am going to initially publish this as a hardback, with plans to publish as a paperback book, and even perhaps an ebook later.

Best Regards,


Alan 


Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Cover of when she is winter by Emily Ford

 Here is the cover of when she is winter designed by the very talented Emily Ford. 

 

 

 


 

 

You can see more info on the book, including a preview here When She Is Winter

Saturday, 17 May 2025

When she is winter is launched on Amazon.

Announcing the launch of a new paperback collection, my first since 2020's sound about hot. 

I am very happy with the poems in this collection, and very happy with the cover design and illustrations by excellent Cumbrian artist and illustrator Emily Ford.

These poems were made in the time that both of my parents died, and some of the poems address this. 

There are also poems occassioned by birth.

 This is my first venture into using kindle publisher. I hope that the collection is interesting.

To order please visit amazon, or click on the link here when she is winter 

Best Regards.

 

Saturday, 3 May 2025

Coming soon - A New Book titled when she is winter.

Just to announce that I am in the process of completing a new paperback book collection of all new poems. This collection will be my first self-published book, published using kindle self publisher and marketed through Amazon. I will let you know when it is available to buy and include a link on this site when it is ready.

Very best, Alan

 

Thursday, 10 April 2025

Madrid poems

 I have made an ebook of some of the poems occasioned by my many visits to the vibrant city of Madrid.

A city I love being in, with great people, great art, great buildings, and wonderful parks.


I hope that readers will enjoy this.

Friday, 4 April 2025

POEMS for the NHS reformatted into ebook.

 Just a note to say that poet Matt Barnard has contacted me to let me know that the Onslaught Press Anthology Poems for the NHS is being converted into an ebook. It has been made free / as cheap as possible, and readers are encouraged to donate to NHS Charities Together via a link on the site.

Hoping that this a success.

The ebook is available from Amazon.

I have two poems in the anthology. 

 

Monday, 24 March 2025

5 POEMS Book 5 launched.

 

I have completed the last of my practise ebooks series '5 POEMS', that offer a bite sized taster of my poetry. 

Hoping that readers like these, and that they generate interest in the 4 full sized collections available to purchase from the publisher -The Onslaught Press, Amazon, Bookshops and other retailers.

These are :

 The Lost Box of Eyes

 

ident

 

tommorow is the tugboat of today

 

sound about hot

 

 Best Regards,

 

Alan John Stubbs

 

 

 

 

Monday, 17 March 2025

5 POEMS a series of taster books of 5 Poems by Alan John Stubbs

Announcing the publication of a series of Kindle ebooks available to buy on amazon as a taster, in small bites, of my poems.  

 

The books published todate are :

 

5 POEMS Book 1                available here     5 POEMS

 

5 POEMS Book 2                available here    5 POEMS 2

 

5 POEMS Book 3                available here     5 POEMS Book 3

 

5 POEMS Book 4                available here    5 POEMS Book 4

 

If you would like to try my poems before investing in one of my 4 poetry collections please consider trying one of these.

 

 

 

Friday, 7 March 2025

One of my favourite poems from the collection sound about hot


Scan.


Is the black an atmosphere, or mud-flats, or fluid?
White body? The white
appears intact inside of the sound
                                        of itself,
a heart is beating loosed
                within pale overarchings,
—a bud yearning to spring open
whatever lock restrains
so that what was a chamber of stillness
breaks to be released,
                reaches.
Is it weightless?
                Aware of its own weightlessness?
I am anxious of the unknown, for it,
its diaphragm rises and falls and rises in
‘practise breaths’
the Midwife says, as she measures and listens
                                                —and we all listen
to blood’s flow through arteries and veins.
This is the cord in section,
                        a section through the cord.
Why then does this machine not show it
reaching out and running like a cable should
and plugging in shocking us deep beneath our skin.
This is the landscape of the nose, the open
mouth. I remember
hearing memory begins
when words are used for things.




Alan John Stubbs.

Tuesday, 4 March 2025

a poem from the collection tomorrow is the tugboat of today.

 

Dream

 

 

When I realised she was made of ash

and all of the talking, talking, talking. Not

 

 

the ash that consolidates about a sapling

but what remains after a fierce conflagration.

A black and grey ash that disperses

eventually breaking to a dust, rather than

the rich blood ash that burnt peat becomes.

 

 
 

When I realised she was made of ash

and waiting, waiting, waiting for some

 

 

words to stop her from breaking, I was

afraid that a touch would dry the river

or raise a flood, and understood that her

words would be a wind to raise the good

earth from the charred bones of the land.

a poem from the collection tomorrow is the tugboat of today.

 

Like an anchor

 

 

holds close to the shore

it used to be a wise sailor

would tend a crow,

keeping it close

on a long journey, so

that lost he might throw it

up out of the nest

to soar high above

the clouds and see

a line they could follow

to safe land

 

 

and tomorrow.....

 

a poem from the collection tomorrow is the tugboat of today.

 

rail replacement bus service.

 

the green gleam of leaves turning

metal, fragile, brittle, is changing

 

as we traverse water that is still

across the road on the way in to Aspatria after

 

 

the flood, just a small flood this time

three hundred or so houses emptied out

 

Oh! but the light is breaking the sky

through a low cloud so forbidding

 

up high is a blue clear high, and the view

as we descend to the train station by

 

the Lake District Creamery with it's ageless

sign, a black and white cow and a milk churn -

 

is of a builders yard with a white van, and the usual

stacks of used wooden pallets

 

the bus reverses into to turn back

up the road at Johanna Terrace - but what

 

a light – all encompassing

everything bright as a button

 

a yellow wagon smiles into reverse letting us on

two horses in a field are waked by the sun

 

West Street Health Centre stands ablaze

across the street the Red Lion slumbers in shade

 

the black faced sheep have never looked so clean

electricity pylons are positively gleaming

 

and the tops of hedges - shocked into a last

thrust up in the air

 

are a child's hair under the influence

of a Van de Graaff Generator

Wednesday, 29 January 2025

a philosophical Provocation.

 

 

A  poem from The Lost Box of Eyes:

 

 

a philosophical provocation


this tree is both an assertion and a dialogue

it is ambiguous and playfully sets out in branches

it is rooting too slowly to appreciate in inches

it is not just itself but also lichens and mosses

aggregate on its surfaces, and the spine of trunk

is a book of record in a way, and the flat leaf

a translator of light and air and water, a sheathe

of cares where a slaughter of aphids turn gunk

and tear into a million chews, or that tree frogs

may choose to hide beneath and snooze, or foxes

paw at when they parachute loose, and so this

is an interpretation, and that is all it is, a miss

heard call, a faint echo, an accumulation of

words sighing like leaves on a tree, or a stove

that is ready to cook the meal that's inside it.

This door is blind shut and we don't know it's lit.



 

 

This poem won a prize in The Arvon International Poetry Prize, and it was published in Poetry Review.

Friday, 24 January 2025

Poem from the anthology of Cumbria poetry This Place I Know

 There is an excellent exhibition of Sheila Fell landscapes and portraits at Tullie House until mid March 2025. It reminded me of this poem I wrote. 

 

unable to see the Sheila Fell landscapes.

 

 

Air dances the wings of Cherry leaves

so that green shakes about the white frowsy hair pinked in the midst

of upraised arms shaking like a child’s upbraided for walking

out onto a busy street

though it is restrained by an iron cage fitted about it and into the concrete

paving slabs diminishing what might be subtle yearnings

 

 

She has a patch, rather a coarse plaster, at her throat where

a piercing with a kind of stone is set in a wound

 

 

painfully healing. Her hair

that was wound up in a soft grey woollen towel is let down

so that what were flowers split apart and spill

about the slender bole out to the border-edges of the paving

 

 

where wall break stones tumble the corner of my eye

caught by the sleek grey of a wild cat turning away

 

Copywrite Alan John Stubbs


Published in THIS PLACE I KNOW, a new anthology of Cumbria Poetry, by Handstand Press,

and in the collection tomorrow is the tugboat of today by The Onslaught Press.

 

 

 

Thursday, 23 January 2025

lost box of eyes collection available on Internet Archive

Free read lost box of eyes.

 

I have been told that anyone interested in my poetry can find my first collection the lost box of eyes in the 'internet archive' and borrow it to read free of charge.

I am delighted with this and have added a link to the archive copy below.

 

Lost Box of Eyes  



enjoy