Biography
Published 'Airport Reading' (tall lighthouse, 2004), ‘There is Violence in these Vapours’ (tall lighthouse, 2007 “… proves he is a master of ‘viral poetry’ – words that infect the reader with their anger, cynicism and intelligence…..” Agnes Meadows), 'In Bed with Shostakovich' (pamphlet, tall lighthouse, 2009), ‘Lucky’ (Lapwing Publications, 2015 “Buchan has said his piece and there is enough in this collection to remind this reader of how lucky he is.” Write Out Loud), 'Burglar: 45 Slight Poems' (Lapwing Publications, 2017), 'The Pleasure of Firing Back' (Lapwing Publications, 2022 "Graham Buchan combines cold observance with Emily Dickinson’s advice to ‘tell all the truth, but tell it slant’." Eamonn Lynskey). Three poems in national newspapers, others in three dozen magazines and fifteen anthologies. Joint winner Piccadilly Poets 2001, The Cellar Slam Champion 2006. Has appeared on BBC London (TV), BBC London (radio), Resonanace FM, Optical Radio, Sub City Radio, WBAI (New York), Iraqi TV. Appeared at Austin Poetry Festival, 2003 and 2008, Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, Babylon Festival in Al Hillah, Iraq (2014), International Poetry Festival, Granada, Nicaragua (2018), Letras en la Mar, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (2019) and 2 two-week poetry tours to New York, 2006 and 2009. Also published short stories, various articles, travel writing, poetry appreciation and dozens of film, theatre, literature and art reviews. My Gaudi House was Write Out Loud's Poem of the Month in November 2009. Video clips of some of my and other writers' poems being read can be found at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX_kDVClx9RpB3ALD0I3inQ?view_as=subscriber. My book of short fiction, So Sweet and Other Stories, will be published by Foreshore Books in the spring of 2026.
Samples
Curriculum. There was a shooting in a school. In History. History was not affected. There was a shooting in a school. In Geography. It was anywhere. There was a shooting in a school. In chemistry. A rapid exothermic reaction. There was a shooting in a school. In Physics. A small increase in entropy. There was a shooting in a school. In Psychology. In Psychology the students failed. There was a shooting in a school. In Biology. In Biology the students stopped. Sharks West End cars prowling like sharks wideboys out on the wobble pregnant air heavy with heat spinning post-digital money. The way that empires dissolve puddles of blood on abandoned platforms and a peacock’s lonely wail. Was there any history? There’s a throb in the basement and a hand between moistened thighs. Slick back that jet black hair. Desert Woman in the desert swathed in crimson you smiled for life light came from you like a crystal you cupped your hands in the sand powder on the wind the hot wind. Light came from you like a crystal let me learn your religion jewels on you bracelets gold. You smiled for life the pink palm of your hand you paddle the sand silence essence concentrate the warm breeze. We sit crossed legged you hush my lips your smile centuries dignity patience. Quartz amber amethyst desert shrugs off soft comfort hard abrasive rock sun sand the hot wind. You hush my lips essence crystal concentrate silence hold me through the freezing night.
All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.
Blog entries by Graham Buchan
Reading to Literature students in Chile. (29/07/2022)
Launch of my fifth book, The Pleasure of Firing Back (21/04/2022)
Video clips on You Tube (18/05/2020)
The Nationwide (27/02/2017)
Four London Poets on Saturday December 3rd (18/11/2016)
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Commments
Thanks for your comments. My husband said a similar thing and told me to update my history before writing, but I hope I put the idea across.
Hitler not only desecreated humanity but much of the world's Art. I'm not a religious person, but wherever he is I hope he's suffering twelve million times more than the suffering he placed on each individual. Knowing our luck he'll be Satan.s right hand man and come back to haunt humanity at the end of days.
Maybe I should have personified him as War, one of the four horseman of the Apocolypse.
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steve mellor
Sun 4th Oct 2009 10:38
Hello Graham
I'm not sure if I'm a 'we' but your comment brought your name/profile to my attention, and I wanted to say how much I enjoyed My Gaudi House. I thought it absolutely brilliant.
Perhaps it's closer to my ideas of the expression of love.
Steve M.