Happy National Poetry Day 
This is a picture from my first ever poetry open mic, back in May 2013.
If you’d have told this bloke, who was awkwardly avoiding eye contact with the audience and deliberately holding a large folder of poems to stop his hands shaking, about all the poetry things he’d achieve in the next seven and a bit years, then he’d have probably run away and hidden in the corner.
I’ve been very lucky to be part of a great Nottingham poetry scene and to meet kind poets from all over the country who have taken the time to give me a platform and gently nurture my writing and confidence, bit by bit. There’s still so much to learn and improve and provide, so long may it continue.
Wherever you are on your poetry journey, or if it hasn’t started yet, then good luck, go for it, yes you are good enough and enjoy what you never thought you’d achieve.
It feels great. 
