“When I became a bird, Lord, nothing could not stop me.

The air feathered

as I knelt

by my open window for the charm —

black on gold,

last star of the dawn.”

— From ‘Bird’ by Liz Berry

The Best British Poetry has rapidly become one of the UK’s most noted collections. Now in its third edition, Salt Publishing is proud to present this thoroughly inspirational selection from this year’s best poets.

Offering a completely comprehensive guide for enthusiastic readers and students, this anthology focuses on poems, not poets. Carefully chosen from a wide range of the UK’s best print and online magazines, these poems spring to life on the page, breathtakingly original and varied in tone, illuminating, moving and unexpected. From big names such as David Harsent, Alan Jenkins, Ruth Padel and Sean O’Brien, to the wonderful work of Leontia Flynn, Mark Waldron and Charlotte Geater, this collection speaks for itself.

The Best British Poetry 2013 concludes with just short biographical details and comments from each of sixty-eight featured poets, lending it a personal and revealing touch.

A must for the bookshelf of the poetry amateur and aficionado alike.

Series edited by: Roddy Lumsden
Contributions by: Rachael Allen, Liz Berry, Emily Berry, Patrick Brandon, James Brookes, Sam Buchan-Watts, Hayley Buckland, Harry Burke, John Burnside, Matthew Caley, Niall Campbell, Ian Cartland, Melanie Challenger, Kayo Chingonyi, John Clegg, David Constantine, Emily Critchley, Claire Crowther, Francine Elena, Menna Elfyn, Leontia Flynn, Charlotte Geater, Dai George, Matthew Gregory, Philip Gross, David Harsent, Stuart Henson, Wayne Holloway-Smith, Sarah Howe, A.B. Jackson, Andrew Jamison, Alan Jenkins, Edward Mackay, Kona Macphee, David Marriott, Glyn Maxwell, Chris McCabe, John McCullough, Patrick McGuinness, Andrew McMillan, Allison McVety, Christopher Middleton, Kate Miller, Helen Mort, Alastair Noon, Richard O'Brien, Sean O'Brien, Richard Osmond, Ruth Padel, Pascale Petit, Heather Phillipson, Jody Porter, Kate Potts, Sam Riviere, Michael Symmons Roberts, Robin Robertson, Sophie Robinson, Charlotte Runcie, Declan Ryan, Fiona Sampson, Camellia Stafford, Chloe Stopa-Hunt, George Szirtes, Helen Tookey, Tim Turnbull, Mark Waldron, Nerys Williams