Christopher North

Christopher NorthAlthough Christopher has published widely and has won a glittering array of prizes for his poetry, Explaining the Circumstances was his first full collection. His work has universality, strength and wit; and even when he is being playful, his poetry sings with lyrical expression and an understanding of human nature. With his wife Marisa, Christopher facilitates the poetry writing retreats in his art centre, Almassera Vella, in Spain.

Christopher has now collaborated with Terry Gifford to produce a bi-lingual book about the area of Eastern Spain where they both live and write. Al Otro Lado del Aguilar is a collection of poems and conversations written by Christopher and Terry and translated into Spanish by a team of translators from Alicante University and Madrid.

Personal website: www.oldolivepress.com

Sample poems

After the Uffizi from Explaining the Circumstances

Village Wedding at Relleu from Al Otro Lado del Aguilar

Oversteps publications

Explaining the Circumstances (2010)

Al Otro Lado del Aguilar with Terry Gifford (2011)

Suddenly, crossing the road in front of us,
a gull. Expressionless, self-involved,
it was hurrying, slightly late for an appointment.

Near the verge it broke into a little run
and we could see it carried a broken wing,
seemingly clutching to its side – a brief-case.

Extract from “Gull”

Recent news

  • Christopher North won second prize in the ‘Writers’ News’ small collection competition and also the short poem prize in the Flamingo Poetry Competition.



  • Christopher North was awarded third prize in the recent Magma competition.



  • Christopher North’s poem ‘Tafarmach Idyll’ was a runner up in  the Yorkshire poetry competition.



  • Oversteps poets continue to win prizes. The last few weeks have seen several successes: in the National Poetry Competition, both Giles Goodland and Caroline Carver were commended; Elisabeth Rowe has been shortlisted for the Strokestown prize; Alwyn Marriage was Highly Commended in the Mirehouse competition at Words by the Water; and Christopher North has won the Mayor’s Competition in Enfield. Congratulations to all of them.



  • Christopher North has been awarded second prize in this year’s Yorkshire Poetry Competition, judged by Michael Symmons Roberts.



  • Christopher North has won second prize in the Yorkshire Poetry Competition.