The idea of a journey is one which has fascinated writers for centuries; exploring the significance of both metaphorical and physical journeys, taking the theme as a starting point for exploring desire, change and adventure. In this month's feature four writers explore what the idea of journeys mean to them, using poetry and prose to tease out the longing, the regret and the hope inherent in the journeys embarked upon.

Wayne Burrows travels by train across the English countryside. Using pertinent metaphors and subtle observations his poem explores the landscape he crosses, turning images on their head and offering unique insights into everyday objects.

In Sarah Hymas's intriguingly named poem 'A Wise Man Builds His House on a Rock' she explores Christianity, war, duty and love. It is also an exploration of hope and optimism over rational thought, an analysis of religious tensions and the boundaries imposed by faith. Her journeys are metaphorical and physical, leading the reader into unknown and mysterious situations.

Kerri Sakamoto's 'The Mongolian Spot' is an absorbing piece of prose that features very real and captivating characters contrasting against a less tangible and specific series of events. War, ships bound for far off places, missing relatives, manipulative family members all combine to make for a compulsive piece of writing that sees a reluctant hero embark on a journey that even from the outset contains overtones of disaster.

The poems by Pam Zinnemann-Hope combine to create a powerful narrative exploring the misery, futility and unpredictability of forced journeys. These journeys, made for mixed reasons, including love, optimism, hope, escape and fear, may lead to a safe destination, but there is no guarantee of serenity or joy at the other end.

Wayne Burrows

Wayne Burrows's first collection, Marginalia, was published by Peterloo Poets in 2001, and his work featured in New Writing 12 (Picador, 2004). He recently completed Protein Songs, a sequence about genetics for use in Retina Dance Company's Eleven Stories for the Body, which toured the UK and Europe in 2005-6. He is currently editor of Staple magazine and lives in Nottingham.

Bob Lawson

Kerri Sakamoto

Kerri Sakamoto is a Toronto-based writer of novels, screenplays and essays on visual art. Her first novel, The Electrical Field, received the overall Commonwealth Prize for Best First Book and the Canada-Japan Literary Award. Her most recent book is One Hundred Million Hearts.

Daniel Tisch

Pam Zinnemann-Hope

Pam Zinnemann-Hope's poems have appeared in poetry magazines including Stand and Poetry London, in anthologies including Why Does My Mum Always Iron a Crease in My Jeans? (Puffin, 2005) and her Ned books for young children were published by Walker in 1986. She is adapting On Cigarette Papers for the stage, with the support of industry professionals and a grant from ACESW. She founded and facilitates Poetry Dorchester.

Sarah Hymas

Sarah Hymas lives in Lancaster. She writes short stories as well as poems, and collaborates and performs with a musician. She also works as a publishing development manager and tutor. A Wise Man is from a sequence spanning 100 years of a family and its building business.

Illustration © Maurizio Marmorato