Martin Edwards lives in Dorset and worked, until 2020, as a teacher in adult education. He currently spends much of his time reading, writing and walking about, on his own sometimes, sometimes with other people.
He has published poetry in many places, including Hard Lines, The Rialto, Stand, London Magazine, Smith’s Knoll, The North, Iron, Navis, The Interpreter’s House, The Frogmore Papers…and has published 3 collections of poetry: Coconut Heart, Rainstorm with Goldfish and, most recently, The Out-Islands.
What People Say
Edwards’ subject matter is various, but he treats it all with the same sure, deft touch. His poems are spare, tightly controlled and intelligent, interesting. Time after time he conjures up an image loaded with meaning and resonance. Edwards is a poet who knows what to put in, and what to leave out. He knows where to end a line, and — oh joy — where to end a poem. He seems to have an intuitive understanding of how to walk the line between looseness and tautness, and ends up with a precision that still manages to range.
This is an exceptionally strong collection from a fresh poetic voice; original, distinct. Across the wide range of what it is to be human, familiar experience is made surprising, and the strange brought sharply home, so precise is his word-blade.
“tough, stubborn, intelligent, like knives”
Martin Edwards Poet 