Today I have the special pleasure of welcoming the very talented poet, and fellow OUPS member, Kate Youn, to reflect on a poem from her new pamphlet, A Spark in the Darkness (Hedgehog Poetry Press, 2022).

A Spark in the Darkness is my first full pamphlet published with Hedgehog Press, so I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to talk about its conception. Many thanks Nigel for the invitation.

A Spark in the Darkness was collated in Lockdown. Some of the poems had been written previously and others emerged from the long, afternoon hours of isolation, but they all have the theme of hope. Let’s face it- without hope, life is bleak. In many ways the poems are typical of my poetry in as much as I love playing with words, imagery and rhythm. Walter de la Mare had a significant influence on my love of poetry throughout my…