Poetry is a fascinating use of language. With almost a million words at its command it is not surprising that these Isles have produced some of the most beautiful, moving and descriptive verse through the centuries. In this series we look at each calendar month through the eyes and minds of our most gifted poets to bring you a unique poetic guide to the days within each. October—The tenth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and the land prepares to give up more of its colourful coverings. On this and other themes our poets including Percy Bysshe Shelley, Archibald Lampman, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Alfred Austin, Helen Hunt Jackson and Oliver Wendell Holmes have many lines to beguile you with.

Many of the poems are also available as an audiobook from our sister company Portable Poetry. The full volume can be purchased from iTunes, Amazon and other digital stores. Among our readers are Richard Mitchley and Ghizela Rowe.