I sat out my war in a series of back end stations, always behind the frontline, couched down away from missiles and drones. The days were long and filled with abortive chess moves, and the radios rarely worked. We raided local supplies for wine and cheeses, although these were poor products, lacking in bucolic artistry, … Continue reading My War
Author: Daniel Bennett
I'm a writer and poet. My first novel, All the Dogs, appeared in 2008, and was described by Niall Griffiths as 'a stirring debut, a compellingly written tract on the importance of finding a place on the earth.' My fiction has appeared in London Noir, Crimewave, Black Static and 3AM. I live in London, where, amongst other things, I teach Creative Writing for the Open University. https://absenceclub.com
Amazing Space
They were heading to the coastal town. Mitchell agreed to join them, which caused Hannah to shoot a look at him, which he couldn't quite read. She walked on the other side of Tudor, her hair wound up in a crimson scarf. A storm appeared to be boiling out over the sea: a refined silver … Continue reading Amazing Space
Poetry Birmingham Review
I have three poems in the new edition of Poetry Birmingham Review, including the sequence 'Creek Diary'. Excerpt from 'Creek Diary' The soft blur of codeineleaks into morning light.A cloud unpinned, a drifting barge.A herring gull preening on a mast. * I took myself offacross marshland and coast paths, lost along the littoral * Slate grey and … Continue reading Poetry Birmingham Review
Reviews: West South North, North South East (2)
I found a lovely review by Andrew Taylor of my poetry collection West South North, North South East in The Journal, Sam Smith's heroic poetry magazine from Wales. My thanks to both of them. Sometimes, I don't know where any of us would be without the small presses. _________ Following a Red Ceilings Press pamphlet, … Continue reading Reviews: West South North, North South East (2)
Myths and Cities
‘“Because that means it’s the city. That means it’s the landscape: the bricks, and the girders, and the faulty wiring and the shot elevator machinery, all conspiring together to make these myths come true... Do you think a city can control the way people live inside it? I mean, just the geography, the way the … Continue reading Myths and Cities
Reviews: West South North, North South East (1)
As well as including my poem 'Berlin', the current issue of the Frogmore Papers includes a nice review from Peter Stewart of my debut poetry collection, West South North, North South East. 'Among many fine poems in Daniel Bennett's debut collection, 'Still Life' remarks on the featured delicious apples whose green/ will always remind us … Continue reading Reviews: West South North, North South East (1)
On Repeat #9
An Island
During the evening, when the weather held off, after eating a solitary meal in his flat, Mitchell would walk along the coastline. These walks felt idle and aimless, often leading to nothing more than a different point along the sea's edge, but his thoughts were relaxed, and he felt, actually, content. Prison now behind him. … Continue reading An Island
Frogmore Papers
My poem 'Berlin' features in issue 95 of the The Frogmore Papers, out now. It's the melancholy of old Europe, darling: the grungy rot of vegetables on a street corner, the busker at the station with his electric harmonium.At Eberswelder Strasse, the greenis fundamentally greenand the train rolls onwards out of arthouse celluloid.
Whiteness
Winter had bitten. Mitchell walked to work across the frost. In the deep cold of early mornings it was stubborn and pervasive, singeing glass and metal with its creeping whiteness. He became fascinated by the larger patterns it created over the wide surfaces of the Court— the window panes of the swimming pool, the metal of … Continue reading Whiteness
Absence Club 