Twelve beautiful poems for the months of the year: poems for birthdays, for special anniversaries, poems to simply say “I’m thinking of you this month, and isn’t nature wonderful?”.

The Almanac for 2026 starts with a sleeping world waiting for “all the coloured retinue of spring” and ends with busy sparrows teaching the poet a new way of noticing, even in midwinter. All the poems in this vivid mini-anthology capture the essence of each season, showing how marvels of nature can transport us if we stop to look:

“Miracle of the fat pigeons in the road
and of the sun rising golden

and ancient
and of the hush of the sea…”

from ‘Miracle of the Solstice’ by Wendy Pratt

When our busy human lives need more joy in the moment, these twelve inspiring poems provide a little shot of comfort and delight.

Poems by Jane Burn, David Clarke, John Drinkwater, Victoria Gatehouse, Roz Goddard, Chris Hardy, Ted Kooser, George Marion McClellan, WS Merwin, Vic Pickup, Wendy Pratt and Tim Relf.

Cover illustration by Jane Burn.