"Homeopathic doses of poetry!"

.. that's a quote from Tony Curtis, the wonderful Dublin poet, talking about the series of pamphlets from Candlestick Press designed to introduce poetry to those who wouldn't usually read it. You may have seen some of the series in bookshops, museums or tea shops, "instead of a card" greetings, inexpensive but beautifully produced and a delight to read.

Yesterday evening saw the launch of "Ten Poems About Horses" edited by Alison Brackenbury, held in (appropriately enough!) Alison's Bookshop in Tewkesbury - appropriate too because it's Independent Bookshops Week this week and Alison's is an excellent independent one. A very appreciative audience were treated to wine, cake and some tremendous poetry, read by Alison and my old Cotswold colleagues Sharon Larkin, Iris Ann Lewis and Christine Whittemore. Tony Curtis opened proceedings with a musical setting of Robert Frost's "Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening" and closed them with more songs and his own poetic take on horses, both humorous and profound. A lovely evening.