Verse blanked

David Morley, senior fellow and director of the Warwick writing programme at the University of Warwick, is worried about the dearth of publishing opportunities for new poets - so worried that he is holding a debate on the crisis in poetry publishing at Warwick's arts centre next week.

Mr Morley said: "These are bleak times to be a new poet. At the major presses, the accountants are in charge, and poetry is virtually banned. The few presses left are underfunded and understaffed, yet overwhelmed with new poets clamouring at the sacred gate."