Supporting NHS: Harrogate poet/musician in major new book on National Poetry Day

An acclaimed Harrogate-based former Melody Maker and Guardian journalist turned musician-Beat poet is releasing a new single called 2 Covid Verses as part of National Poetry Day.
Harrogate's Heath Common, whose poetry is featured in a new book published by York University Press which also includes Ian McMillan, Dame Margaret Drabble, Mike Harding and Ralph McTell.Harrogate's Heath Common, whose poetry is featured in a new book published by York University Press which also includes Ian McMillan, Dame Margaret Drabble, Mike Harding and Ralph McTell.
Harrogate's Heath Common, whose poetry is featured in a new book published by York University Press which also includes Ian McMillan, Dame Margaret Drabble, Mike Harding and Ralph McTell.

The download single by Heath Common includes two of his greatest poems - When The Dog Bites The Monkey and Powis Square at 4am.

Both feature also in a new poetry anthology entitled Viral Verses published recently by York University Press.

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Heath Common, whose journalism career also saw his work turn up in the Sunday Times, is in good company in the new book.

Also included are the likes of Ian McMillan, Dame Margaret Drabble, Mike Harding, Ralph McTell and Milly Johnson.

The anthology is designed to raise much needed funds for the NHS and all profits will be donated directly to the NHS.

Powis Square at 4am, which tells of a chance encounter between the young Heath and Mick Jagger in swinging London in the late 1960s, has been hailed by renowned music biographer Mick Middles as the "the most vividly vibrant depiction of a lost bohemia."

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After a spell in New York's arts/music scene and a dazzling career interviewing pop stars and indie legends in the 1980s, Heath has built a high reputation for keeping alive the flame of the Beat generation of Kerouac and Burroughs for more than two decades, not just in verse or music but in his capacity as an in-demand interviewer and performer at literary and music talks and events.

Heath's new single is released today, Thursday and is available for download on Hi 4 Head records online at:

www.https://www.hi4headrecords.com/

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