Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.
Well what a couple weeks I’ve had! I feel like I’ve been non-stop but the train has slowed for a while…
The online launch of Unwhispered Legacy was a massive success and I have been overwhelmed by the sheer scale of positivity sent my way. Thank you to all the readers and audience who joined and thanks to those who tried their hardest to make it.
I was lucky to be invited to participate in Poetry (in Brief) hosted by the excellent Rachel Turney in association with Wild Roof Journal where we discussed inspiring overseas places. I learnt so much during the event from the other poets and I have a travel itinerary now. You can watch the video here. Rachel is also this month’s Poetic Voice. Catchup on a cracking part 1 of her feature here which includes a Q& A and poems from her recently released collection Retired Wannabe Kid Club.
Last Sunday evening, I hosted a Book Bag Open Mic which was such a great event and the variety of poetry shared was terrific. Tickets for the next open mic are now on sale but are limited. Grab them here.
The allotment is a marvel. We harvested our first radish (icicle) of the year and used it in a steak salad. Can’t wait to harvest alot more! Bad news though, a snail has eaten our sunflowers. Lucky, we have some more ready to be planted.
Write Here, Right Now happened on Thursday and was a wonderful evening where I got to spend dedicated time on my writing. I shared a WIP and got some really valuable insight. I hope to complete the piece this weekend. The next one is in June, reach out if you’d like to know more.
We paid a visit to the Bluebell Woods in Bothal on May Bank Holiday. It was a carpet of bluebells (obviously) and wild garlic. There was so much birdsong, I shared a couple of pictures from my Merlin App but it cut off a couple of species.
On top of that I’ve been reading;
Hatchery
- Poet: Elizabeth Osmond
- Press: V Press
Hatchery is Elizabeth’s debut pamphlet that draws on themes including the history of neonatology and experience of working in the NHS.
Elizabeth’s empathy shines through the pamphlet and gives every piece authenticity. Two of my favourite pieces are the heartfelt ‘The Tiny Nappy’ and ‘I Wish I Could Write You A Prescription For Time’. These both have made a huge impression on me this week and have reminded me of the need for kindness. ‘Conversation’, another of my favourites, made me very emotional. ‘Dads’ is another piece that shows Elizabeth’s empathetic approach to people and poetry.
Hatchery delivers humour in well-placed positions in the book. I couldn’t help but smile at ‘Newbie’ and also the wry matter-of-fact description in ‘Newborn Check’.
Elizabeth tackles challenging subjects throughout the book. ‘Mandatory E-Learning For Consent’ is a remarkable poem. As is ‘Spectacle’. Probably my absolute favourite poem in the book is ‘Doctors in Difficulty’, an authentic illustration of what being a doctor in 2026 is like and everything that comes with it.
Elizabeth’s skill in language, imagery and metaphor is present from the first poem and throughout. The piece ‘I Married The NHS’ is surreal and vivid filled with animalia. This continues in the piece ‘Neonatologist Visits The Reptile House’ which is delicate and tender. The book is perfectly balanced between realism and surrealism.
For all the fans of various forms and styles, Hatchery has you covered. ‘Ode To A Towel’ uses a couplet structure, there’s several ‘after’ pieces including ‘Hatched’. Elizabeth uses space as implied erasure to create an amazing effect in the piece ‘Spaced Out’.
This is a book which will appeal to poetics who appreciate emotive writing that is rooted in lived experience. It will strike a chord with parents and (adult) children. Readers who love explorations of form, language and imagery will enjoy this book. Grab it with both hands and hold it close, it’s a gem of a book.
To buy Hatchery, click here.
Keep up to date with Elizabeth on BlueSky, here.
Favourite Poem:
I’ve already mentioned ‘Doctors in Difficulty’, ‘The Tiny Nappy’, ‘If I Could Write You A Prescription For Time’ and ‘Conversation’. I must also add the following handful; ‘Prognosis’, ‘I Want To Show You The Sink’, ‘On The Uses Of Pomanders’, ‘Making An Exhibition of Myself’ and ‘Bits’.
Oh, you stuck around for a playlist, did you? Here’s an eclectic mix for you…
Jack Johnson – Better Together
Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
Carole King – You’ve Got A Friend
Novo Amor – Anchor
Queen & David Bowie – Under Pressure
Brandi Carlile – The Story
Eva Cassidy – Songbird
The Paper Kites – Bloom
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris – Wildflowers
Tracy Chapman – The Promise
Norah Jones – Nightingale
Before I Go…
Elizabeth is hosting an online zoom launch for Hatchery on the 17th of May with a fantastic lineup. Ticket details here.
One More Thing…
Dust Poetry Magazine is still accepting submissions until the 17th May. Full details including submission guidelines here. Send them your best work.
And Finally…
The excellent Frazzled Lit Short Story Competition is returning for 2026. For those thinking of entering check the details which includes a grand grand prize, click here.
Next Week’s Read
- Title: Chasms
- Poet: Carmella de Keyser
Take it easy, stay poetic and practice kindness.
I’ll catch you next week.
Paul
Paul Writes Poems 