A memorable poem began its life with a haunting phrase, says Alison Chisholm
Sometimes the idea that will become your next poem presents itself to you in a rush of tumbling phrases and images that need to be picked through before any kind of order can emerge. On other occasions one specific part of the poem arrives and tells you how it is to be used. This was the experience of Jill Stanton-Huxton of Buckingham when she wrote The Lighthouse.