The Autumn 2025 issue of Poetry News introduces the judges for the 2025 National Poetry Competition, and celebrates Colette Hiller as winner of the 2025 CLiPPA. Tim Relf investigates the power of the ‘opening line’ and ‘toastmaster’ and Chris Arning explains how poetry lends itself to public speaking. Helen Farish judges the Autumn members’ competition on the theme of ‘Clearing’ (whether as a noun or a verb). Our ‘Poets reading Poets’ this issue are Victoria Kennefick on Rebecca Hoogs, D.A. This issue also includes the University of Liverpool Kenneth Allott Lecture / The Poetry Society Summer Lecture: Vidyan Ravinthiran on ‘Pleasure’.