1000 poems written in the Forest Crib

My First Attempt at Poetry

My first attempt at writing poetry after years of inactivity came in 2020, on the day shared by lovers around the world: Valentine’s Day. My efforts, though fervent, bore no fruit. It was not unlike staring alarmingly at the names of old girlfriends so close to midnight on my laptop’s clock when I finally gave up, bereft of hope. Not one word appeared on my note. Though memories are often sketchy and intangible in their finest details, nonetheless, I’m convinced that attempt was dismissive. Come on—see how much poetry I have written in the last few years! I’m convinced I loafed around hour after hour, my fingers on the trackpad instead of the keyboard.

Discovering the Spark

If I missed a special ingredient that day—Lovers’ International Day—it was definitely Travis Kelce’s fiancée, Taylor Swift.

In late 2021, I released my first poetry book, dedicated to Taylor Swift. The book contained 117 poems. I didn’t find the magic easily, and it wasn’t hiding in other people’s poetry, but I must give my daily consumption of poetry some credit; those mighty-armed poets played a significant role—it’s guidance, helping me recognize a familiar path to follow. But Taylor Swift? No, that one helped me fall in love again. And it was all by returning me to relatable experiences, waking me up to old affairs.

On her eighth studio album, Folklore (released in 2020), I discovered the magic retained from my childhood. And so, with the guiding light of other poets like Wendy Cope, Maya Angelou, Margaret Atwood, Edgar Allan Poe, and John Cooper Clarke, I have arrived here.

The Current Milestone

Cows 🐄, it’s a hundred poems in ten places. So very little.

Looking Ahead to 2026

My aim for 2026 is to write at least 2000 poems.

To achieve this, I’ll need the continued support of some of my favourite muses, like Kendall Jenner, and new muses like Addison Rae and Victoria Justice. It’s hard to hide it, Cows 🐄—it’s going to be a crazy 2026.

Big love,
Howard Frith Hilton