Short & Sweet: 101 Very Short Poems - Softcover

The longest poem in Short and Sweet is thirteen lines and the shortest has no lines at all. Arranged as a kind of countdown, the anthology illustrates how the short poem can tell a story, capture an instance, present a complex argument and be packed with as much passion, wisdom and music as we might desire from a piece of writing. In his characteristically quick-witted introduction, 'Precious Little', Simon Armitage contemplates how poets over several centuries have practised brevity in their work.

Simon Armitage was born in West Yorkshire and is Professor of Poetry at the University of Sheffield. A recipient of numerous prizes and awards, he has published ten collections of poetry, including Selected Poems (2001), Seeing Stars (2010) and his acclaimed translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (2007). A broadcaster and presenter, he also writes extensively for television and radio, is the author of two novels, the bestselling memoir All Points North (1998) and Walking Home (2012), his poetic journey along the Pennine Way. In 2010 he received the CBE for services to poetry.