'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness...' Joe takes a stroll in his hometown and kicks through some autumn leaves in keeping with the wonderful John Keats. Support the show https://bsky.app/profile/sketchpoetry.bsky.social Want to hear a poem? Pitch it (and the setting in which you think it could be read) to me here: thesketchpoet@gmail.com

'Hill-warded haven, creek well found...' Joe takes a stroll in West Bay, Dorset and reads this little-known gem by William Barnes. Locals at the beginning deserve their own show, what a double-act! Support the show https://bsky.app/profile/sketchpoetry.bsky.social Want to hear a poem? Pitch it (and the setting in which you think it could be read) to me here: thesketchpoet@gmail.com

Four Larkin poems for my former teacher, mentor, and friend Mr. Pete Winfield. Poems: High Windows, Days, Church Going, An Arundel Tomb. Miss you, Pete. Support the show https://bsky.app/profile/sketchpoetry.bsky.social Want to hear a poem? Pitch it (and the setting in which you think it could be read) to me here: thesketchpoet@gmail.com

'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' Joe takes a stroll to the theatre and discusses this summer sonnet by Shakespeare. Support the show https://bsky.app/profile/sketchpoetry.bsky.social Want to hear a poem? Pitch it (and the setting in which you think it could be read) to me here: thesketchpoet@gmail.com

'Gather ye rosebuds while ye may...' Joe talks about Carpe Diem, and Robin Williams. Support the show https://bsky.app/profile/sketchpoetry.bsky.social Want to hear a poem? Pitch it (and the setting in which you think it could be read) to me here: thesketchpoet@gmail.com

'Cut grass lies frail...' Recorded last year originally for the Philip Larkin Society's 'Joe Riley Presents' mini-series. A great lyric poem, best enjoyed in young-leafed nature. Support the show https://bsky.app/profile/sketchpoetry.bsky.social Want to hear a poem? Pitch it (and the setting in which you think it could be read) to me here: thesketchpoet@gmail.com

'Higher than the handsomest hotel...' Joe has, through some tricky circumstances, been visiting a particular building and thinks you should wander the corridors with him. If it doesn't come through in this episode: my absolute respect for all NHS staff that keep these buildings going, and especially to the good folk at University Hospital Southampton. Support the show https://bsky.app/profile/sketchpoetry.bsky.social Want to hear a poem? Pitch it (and the setting in which you think it could...

'The mower stalled, twice...' I've been asked to mow the lawn this weekend. Here's a throwback to late spring 2024, when I recorded my first sketch for the Philip Larkin Society. If you are a lover of Larkin, please check out their excellent podcast entitled 'Tiny in all That Air' here. Support the show https://bsky.app/profile/sketchpoetry.bsky.social Want to hear a poem? Pitch it (and the setting in which you think it could be read) to me here: thesketchpoet@gmail.com

'Let faxes butter-curl on dusty shelves...' Joe rings in spring by sitting in a sunny space and reads this wonderful poem for turbulent times. Ros Barber kindly agreed to be interviewed about this poem and the second half is less a sketch and more a portrait of the poet herself, and how this superb poem came into being. Find more of her work here: https://rosbarber.com/ Or follow her Substack: https://substack.com/@rosbarber ...and while you're at it: https://substack.com/@t...

'I wander thro' each chartered street, near where the chartered Thames does flow And mark in every face I meet, marks of weakness, marks of woe...' Joe heads to the Big Smoke and speaks with John Riordan from the William Blake Society. You can find his work here: https://www.johnriordan.co.uk/ and join the William Blake Society here: https://www.blakesociety.org Many thanks to John and to the mystery American/Italian poet outside Blake's house. Support the show https://bsky.app/profil...

'Whose woods these are I think I know...'Happy 2025!Get your coat, get your gloves, get your...horse. We're going for a very bracing journey through the wintery landscape of this lovely poem. Audio at the beginning from the Cohen Brothers' neo-Western masterpiece: No Country for Old Men.Support the showhttps://bsky.app/profile/sketchpoetry.bsky.socialWant to hear a poem? Pitch it (and the setting in which you think it could be read) to me here:thesketchpoet@gmail.com

'Once upon a midnight dreary...'A bumper Christmas episode. Enjoy during this bleak December!NEVERMORE!*Re-uploaded due to initial sound level issues. Support the showhttps://bsky.app/profile/sketchpoetry.bsky.socialWant to hear a poem? Pitch it (and the setting in which you think it could be read) to me here:thesketchpoet@gmail.com

Not poetry, but I recorded this last year and wanted to share it with you.A spooky tale for the fireside this Christmas by the masterful M.R James.Sceptical Professor Parkins takes a trip to Burnstow to indulge in some research, and play some golf. He finds a mysterious whistle in the ruins of an old preceptory and, foolishly, blows it. From this point on, he is pursued by...what?Stoke the fire or light a candle, settle back in a comfy chair, pour yourself a large glass of something strong; y...

TW: Suicide.The Forest. An original poem by yours truly. Read along with it here.In honour of Movember, Joe shares his bad mental health day as well as a poem about the suicide forests of Mount Fuji. While this poem is dark, the episode is meant to be cathartic--nobody is truly alone in this world.To donate to Joe's Movember page: click here.For a bit of Joe's singing (which might cheer you up, though no guarantees) have a look here:https://www.youtube.com/@Rileysings88If you are affected by ...

The official trailer for Sketch Poetry. Share far and wide with anyone you think might like the show!Support the showhttps://bsky.app/profile/sketchpoetry.bsky.socialWant to hear a poem? Pitch it (and the setting in which you think it could be read) to me here:thesketchpoet@gmail.com

'The steeples are white in the wild moonlight'Do not listen to this late at night.Support the showhttps://bsky.app/profile/sketchpoetry.bsky.socialWant to hear a poem? Pitch it (and the setting in which you think it could be read) to me here:thesketchpoet@gmail.com

'Even now this landscape is assembling.'Joe kicks off spooky season with a little number from Louise Glück. There is a lot of preamble to go with Joe's ambling, so if you want to get straight to the poem skip to 14 mins. This was suggested by the wonderful Jim Moon of the Hypnogoria podcast and I highly recommend you listen to his show here: https://www.hypnogoria.com/hypnogoriapodcast.htmlThere will be more spooky things, stay tuned. Support the showhttps://bsky.app/profile/sketchp...

A recent radio spot Joe had with Hannah Sackville-Bryant from BBC York. They featured my Rossetti episode and I got to talk about the origins of the podcast.Support the showhttps://bsky.app/profile/sketchpoetry.bsky.socialWant to hear a poem? Pitch it (and the setting in which you think it could be read) to me here:thesketchpoet@gmail.com

'Do not go gentle into that good night"noswaith dda from Joe as he allows himself a couple of cheeky stouts in the pub, which is fitting considering Dylan Thomas' regular habits (though Joe was in bed by 10, honest). The incredible reading of the poem was done this week by Welsh storyteller and podcaster Owen Staton. You can hear his voice here at the Time Between Times podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/time-between-times-storytelling-with-owen-staton/id1573244734The picture...

'Remember me when I am gone awayGone far away into the silent land'Joe takes an early autumn walk and remembers his wonderful father. This episode is a bit emotional, so tread with care but hopefully it brings some solace.Support the showhttps://bsky.app/profile/sketchpoetry.bsky.socialWant to hear a poem? Pitch it (and the setting in which you think it could be read) to me here:thesketchpoet@gmail.com