poet

The Book Bag: Poyums by Len Pennie

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.

This week has been hectic and fun. A new oven installed, a trip to the Bluebell Woods in Morpeth for a walk with the dog. On top of that; I’ve had two poems accepted for the Beautiful Little Fools Anthology (out in July from Broken Spine Arts), celebrated Earth Day and the Bard’s Birthday with a couple of pieces posted for TopTweetTuesday and Twednesday. And to top it all off, the wonderful podcast from Susan Richardson, A Thousand Shades Of Green featured some of my work.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Poyums

  • Poet: Len Pennie
  • Press: Canongate Books

Poyums is the debut collection from Len Pennie. It is a book filled with unflinching honesty, raw emotion and powerful messages relating to issues including domestic violence. A large number of Len’s poems are in the Scot’s language, which emphasises the importance of the words on the page. I have Scottish blood from my Mam’s side of the family and didn’t even realise that Scot’s was a language and not dialect. As such i’ll research that a bit more.

A key theme within the book is empowerment. Pieces including ‘Reflections’ and ‘Contradictions’ tackle this subject in different ways. ‘Reflections’ is a standout piece of writing that gives a real impetus on female strength and reads like a letter written to women and girls, encouraging them to follow their own path.

There are also some dark moments scattered throughout the collection. This begins with the opening piece, ‘Honey’ a raw and honest account. Poems including ‘Mornin Fucker’ and ‘In The Name Ae The Wee Man’ also deal with the aftermath of an abusive relationship. The piece Ourobouros (my close second favourite) is sharp, incisive and cutting with a tremendous depth and defiance at the end.

Misogyny rears its ugly head in the poem ‘In Their Own Words’, created from messages sent to the author. This is a disturbing reminder of the world and the way in which some men think they can objectify women. It’s a shocking state of affairs. In fact, when researching ‘Poyums’, I was shocked to see how much crap the Len Pennie has had to deal with.

Len Pennie is deft at highlighting irony throughout her collection. This is expertly shown in the poem, ‘A Father of Daughters’ . In‘The Child’, Pennie shines a light on double standards that girls have to live with growing up.


An important theme within Poyums, is mental health. ’40 Seconds’ is a devastating poem centred around suicide. This is followed immediately by ‘Angels’. These are brave, heart-wrenching, important pieces.

Underlying a lot of the poetry is wit. The poem ‘Oh, Look’ delivers a tremendous closing line. The pieces ‘The Muse’ and ‘Aince Upon A Time’  are examples where humour shine through.

In terms of form, I’ve already mentioned letter-style poetry. The pieces in the collection use clever rhyme and meter which lends itself to performance and delivering the direct messages of these work to the reader. There are some terrific rhyming structures that also take place out of the confines of ending lines. The rhythm of the pieces can also take turns midway through.

This is a starkly honest collection of poetry that doesn’t avert its gaze from the ordeals that Len Pennie has gone through. It deals truth, grit and humour through the Scot’s language to deliver a poems that stick in your conscience. I’m looking forward to the second book ‘Poyums Annaw’ launching very soon.

Favourite Poem:

Adam and Steve

To find out more about Len Pennie, click here.

Poyums can be bought at independent bookshops as well as the major high street chains. You can also buy from Bookshop.Org

One More Thing…

As mentioned in the recap, I was lucky enough to be a featured poet on A Thousand Shades of Green Podcast. You can find the podcast on your preferred podcast platform or via the website; https://athousandshadesofgreen.com

And Another…

This coming Thursday is the first session of my new online writing group, Write Here, Right Now and I’m very excited.

And Finally…

I want to say a big thanks to the people who have reached out on social media with recommendations to appear in The Book Bag. I’m curating a list and you may see your recommendations live soon.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Motherbunnet
  • Poet: Laura Cooney

Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week.

Paul

The Book Bag: Smatterings of Cerulean by Susan Richardson

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.

This week has been mostly fun. An exquisite array of poetry at Black Bough Poetry open mic, attended Si Fellows’ online launch of Debone & Fold, took a trip to The Alnwick Garden to swing under the Taihaku blossom, went on a couple of woodland walks, enjoyed a couple of big wins for Newcastle United and I also picked up some books from one of the best bookshops in the North, Barter Books.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Smatterings of Cerulean

  • Poet: Susan Richardson
  • Press: Dark Winter Press

I first encountered Susan through her podcast ‘A Thousand Shades of Green’ which is a must listen for poetry lovers where Susan dedicates an episode to a singular poet, reading their work and closes with a poem of her own.  I became a bigger fan through engaging with the same prompts and poets on Twitter then BlueSky where her poetry always teems with emotion and imagery.

Smatterings of Cerulean is Susan’s third collection and is a poetry collection combining Susan’s poetry and photography by Ken Whytock.

A constant of the book, is the economy of language used in pieces. ‘Shore’ and ‘Transformation’ are both prime examples at what can be achieved when stripping back superfluous words. This is a tricky skill to master, I often try to cut out words to hit a brief and it can be a bit of a struggle. I’m sure a lot of poets would agree.

I’ve already mentioned Susan’s ability to capture emotion in her work. Poems including ‘Grief as an Ocean’ ‘Ricochet’ and ‘Ribbons’ all demonstrate this. ‘Until The Room is Airless’ is a masterpiece of Susan’s skill. It will give you pause.

‘Quietly’, ‘Hope’ and ‘Calling Love Home’ are all vivid displays of imagery, showcasing another of Susan’s trademarks. Bearing in mind that these poems are minimal in word count, with less than thirty words each, they all shine.

Layered throughout the collection, are personal poems related to blindness. Susan was diagnosed with a retinal disease in 2002. Examples include ‘Outline of Echoes’ ‘Eyes Closed’ and ‘Striking Colour’, the latter of which is powerfully defiant.

Talking of defiance, I’m glad to say this is a recurring theme in some of the pieces. Susan demonstrates her fight in poems including ‘From Silence’, ‘Through Nightfall’ and ‘Butcher’.

I must mention the curated images throughout the book. They all add an extra element to the work without any disconnection from the poetry. I particularly liked the changes in focus throughout with some softened and some sharp. So this is a shoutout to Ken Whytock.

Smatterings of Cerulean is a book with broad appeal. It will resonate with lovers of imagery and emotion especially when potently-packed into powerful small poems.

To hear Susan reading work from Smatterings of Cerulean, a link to the special A Thousand Shades of Green episode is available here along with all other episodes. Alternatively, listen to A Thousand Shades of Green wherever you normally access your podcasts.

To read more about Susan, her website can be found at: https://floweringink.com

To purchase a copy of Smatterings of Cerulean, click here.

Favourite Poem:

‘In The Veins’ or ‘Striking Colour’.

One More Thing…

On Sunday May 4th, Matthew MC Smith, Editor in Chief of Black Bough Poetry is hosting another of his excellent and highly recommended ‘Crafting Your Year in Poetry’ workshops, 630-9pm UK time. Details here. If you need that extra push to focus for your writing, get yourself along to it.

And Another…

I’m now using Instagram. My handle is paulwritespoems. Give me a follow for poetry-related stuff, landscapes and maybe a dog picture.

And Finally…

There are some excellent poetry collections out there I may not have heard about. If you have any suggestions for upcoming editions of The Book Bag, drop a comment below or send me a message on social media.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Poyums
  • Poet: Len Pennie

Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week.

Paul

Making Way

after Between Walls by William Carlos Williams

The polythene that hauntingly wail-screeched 
in the winter stormwind has been torn down.

No more shards of shattered beer bottles filter or flitter 
the daylight across the distressed concrete in spring. 
For now, grey remains grey.

Summer moths flourish-flounce in stale air, 
before flying off into lemon-sherbet sun.

Leaf litter, kindling dry, the colour of autumn fire 
has been swept up and soaked to stop 
the spread of flame.

Soon, in this periphery of the living, a new 
maternity ward will announce itself through cries 
and tears and the whirring melodies 
of diagnostic instruments.

Please see the image below for the original poem.

The Book Bag: A Dress With Deep Pockets by Jen Feroze

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope your week has been poetically rich.

This week I managed to play my saxophone with less pain and made good progress learning Mr PC by John Coltrane. I also got to speak to one of my poetry heroes Matthew MC Smith, wrote a new piece and ramped up writing group plans. I also spent some time in Northumberland seeing family.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

A Dress With Deep Pockets

  • Poet: Jen Feroze
  • Press: Smith|Doorstop Books

I’m a big fan of Jen Feroze. Having heard and read Jen’s poetry in several places both online and in print including Iamb, Dust, Ink Sweat and Tears and more, I’ve also had the pleasure of interacting via social media through Top Tweet Tuesday.

The collection is acknowledged ‘For my friends’ so it should not come as a surprise that friendship is a main theme of the book. At its heart, this pamphlet deals greatly with people and place.

‘Hare Girl’ is the opening poem and introduces readers to an old friend with a perfect blend of nostalgia, imagery and humour. For people who ever camped while under the influence of cheap spirits and artificial cider in their early teens, like me, this was very relatable.

I first heard the poem ‘Gorge’ in Wave 16 of Iamb poetry and is a piece that displays Jen’s skill in encompassing multiple emotions and moods into a piece. The shifts in tone throughout the poem give it an importance like the Gorge itself. The feeling of wanting to escape small towns for cities is reminiscent of many people I grew up with including me.

For readers who like to see different forms used in a collection will be happy that there are multiple styles used throughout. ‘Let’s Start A Commune’, a stream of consciousness poem (my favourite) and a golden shovel ‘It’s 2003 and Joni is Teaching Me About Love’ and ‘Anne in December’ are three distinct pieces.

The poem ‘Now I’m Older I Can Call Her Linda’ deals with the how we see adults in authority as children then as adults. The piece ‘I Invite my Grown-Up Daughter Round For Her Dinner’ is the opposite in premise. How adults see children in the future and wondering if the impression will be the reality.

The way in which relationships are portrayed throughout the collection are honest. Jen brings her friends and family from the page into the world with all their idiosyncrasies. The people all seem familiar as if they were part of your social circle or wider community. A great example of this, is the piece ‘The Four Of Us In August’.

I could go on an on about the poems in this collection. I would talk more about the friendships on show in this collection, but they are so special I will let you find out for yourself.

This pamphlet is a showcase on people and place, friendship and time.  It is relatable, heartfelt and soulful poetry.

To read more about Jen and buy this book, find more details at https://jackdaweditorial.com/

To listen to Gorge and other poems by Jen on Iamb click here.

Favourite Poem:
‘Let’s Start A Commune’ followed closely by ‘Gorge’ and ‘Will You Be My Friend, Grace Dent’.

One More Thing…

Broken Spine Arts are holding two workshops in April. Untamed: Writing Without Fear is on April 13th with Write the Night taking place on April 27th. I have attended both of these workshops in the past and found them engaging and useful. I managed to craft solid poems from each workshop. Also, all funds made go directly into Broken Spine’s Award Fundraising Campaign. Details of Broken Spine Events can be found here: https://thebrokenspine.co.uk/event-calendar/

And Another…

The landmark 60th Anniversary issue of Poetry Wales is now available celebrating 60 new Welsh poets. For more details click here.

Finally…

There are a couple of really good submissions open at the moment that I’ve saw online. Links are below, and if you’d like me to share more competition or submissions news let me know in the comments or on social media.
The Madrigal
The Interpreter’s House (opens on 1st April)

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Debone and Fold
  • Poet: Si Griffiths

Just Before You Go

I was very sad to hear of the passing of Ivor Daniel, an incredibly kind and supportive poet and man whose work I admired for his distinctive style. Matthew MC Smith has created a beautiful tribute to Ivor which includes some of his work here.

Mark Anthony Owen has also paid tribute to Ivor on Iamb. You can hear Ivor recite his poetry here.

Take care and be poetic,

Paul

The Book Bag: Mountains That See In The Dark by Regine Ebner

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve all had a poetic week.

Well what a week it has been. After 70 years without a domestic cup, Newcastle United finally won the League Cup at Wembley. Since then, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind of emotions. I attended an awayday at work and heard a speaker discussing change which was really interesting. I also met a friend for a catchup over food and drinks.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Mountains That See in the Dark

  • Poet: Regine Ebner
  • Press: Black Bough Poetry

A few weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on Regine Ebner’s pamphlet ‘Oxidized Pennies’. I said that a new collection was coming from Regine in the near future, and readers, it has arrived.  You’ll also know that I’m a massive fan of Regine in her poetry and for her adventurous spirit.

The collection, recently announced as nominated for a Forward Prize by Black Bough Poetry, is divided into 6 sections (including bonus poems), each taking inspiration from the mountainous desert terrain that serves as a backdrop for much of Regine’s poems. A page ‘About Regine’ gives details as to how her life was shaped and how she arrived in the desert.

Her skill in economy of language has evolved since Oxidized Pennies. Two compact poems; ‘Citrine’ and ‘Drunk Confetti’ illustrate this, with word choices connecting to their underlying themes more vividly. I can also say the same for ‘Jellybean Hill’ and ‘A Myriad of Leaf’.

Regine plays with the spectrum of colour deftly in the collection. The pieces ‘Apparitions’, ‘Cracked Surfaces’ and ‘Hurricanes’ paint the wilderness of the mountainous desert region brilliantly, lifting them from the page to the mind’s eye.

The imagery throughout is exceptional. I could list countless poems in this collection where it felt as though I was immersed in landscaped scenes unfamiliar to me. I will pick out the following as examples; ‘Bonds of Salted Land’, ‘Missions and Slit Rail Fences’ and ‘Hushed Peaks and Glory Columbine’.  A great deal of the pieces are love letters to the environment that Regine calls home.

I read a quote at the Northern Poetry Library a while ago that said ‘…Poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen’, and this collection is definitely testament to that.

Poems including ‘Love and Beasts’ and ‘Desert Streets’ play with movement in differing ways. The shifts in pace really engage the reader further rather than rushing them through to a crescendo of a closing line.

Mountains That See in the Dark is a tremendous second ‘album’ that will appeal of lovers of imagery woven throughout emotional and natural reckonings. This is precise poetry that resonates.

To buy Mountains That see In The Dark, and find more about Regine, click here. It is available in both Paperback and for Kindle.

Favourite Poem:

Doorways.

One More Thing…

My efforts to start a new online poetry writing group have ramped up and will soon be sending out invites. The plan is to host every 6 weeks midweek, probably a Thursday evening (UK time).

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: A Dress With Deep Pockets
  • Poet: Jen Feroze

Take it easy and stay poetic, I’ll catch you next week. If you have any recommendations in the meantime, please leave a comment.

Paul

Resurgency

The terrace-surrounded oak is reclaiming its land.

Unseen subterranean tentacular incursions
move through mychorrhizal maps and attack .

Successful missions lift the grip of tarmac from pavement and road,
opening arteries and veins like a villain in a horror movie.

Saplings encamp along front lines;
fortifications of shoots climb slowly and
self-seeded wildflowers and mercenary-moss
shore up defences.

A hi-viz council kill squad
arrives at the battlefield too late. 
The war has already been won. 
A new country has emerged despite attempts to suffocate progress.

Their wasp-cry chainsaw lays claim to trunk. 
An undignified toppling of a head of state. 
In their minds, man must always win 
however hollow a victory.


Photo by Collab Media on Unsplash

The Book Bag: Sleepers Awake by Oli Hazzard

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.

This week was the second week of training in my new role at work and has been very busy. The Executive team sent me a box of chocolates to congratulate me on the new role which was unexpected but greatly appreciated. I struggled at my Sax lesson due to my bust shoulder but it was fun all the same. Also, I really enjoyed the speakers I saw at Alnwick Story Fest. All very different topics but important too. Did I blow my budget on books? Yes. I also picked up this week’s collection though. 

Poetry-wise I’ve started drafting some pieces and submitted a couple of poems. I’ve also started work on creating an online writing group.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Sleepers Awake

  • Author: Oli Hazzard
  • Press: Carcanet Press

Sleepers Awake opens with a sprawling 56-page poem encompassing various forms and themes. Progress: Real and imagined pulls in multiple directions like a fever dream or string of consciousness. 

The poem is very clever in that it involves writing a poem in response to a painting by Nicole Eisenmann. However, before returning to finish, the poet must deal with the distractions of everyday life. As in real life, the distractions are constant, external and internal. 

The shifts in form bring changes in pace and thematic subjects, keeping you engaged as a reader. I didn’t lift my head for a while, giving the occasional ‘ooh’ and chortle. 

At times the piece becomes very meta, referring to language choices made to increase the poem’s status. The act of adding a pear to make the piece ‘more hummy’.

I have to credit Oli Hazzard for such a well-crafted and complex piece.

Oli Hazzard is adept at wordplay, the poem ‘Postpositivity in Spring’, is a string of economical couplets split into sections, with each couplet starting by ending the previous one. Smart work.

‘Sleepers Awake’ is a terrific display of imagery and lyrical language to discuss snowfall in Glasgow. There’s also romanticism at play here which I really enjoyed. This is my second favourite poem in the collection.

We are treated to plenty of contemporary references within the collection. Pieces including ‘Dingdingdinggedicht’, ‘Living, etc’ and ‘Earth IV’ are all strong examples of being restrained in use to deliver the best impact. (Side note: The Hufflepuff reference made me chuckle. My wife played  a Hufflepuff in the first Harry Potter movie.)

Music is mentioned throughout the book. The poems ‘Composed at Edberg’ and Theory of The Lyric are the obvious titles to note, but then there is another immense sequence titled Incunabulum. 16 poems made up of 4 stanzas with 4 lines per stanza. The lines are too long to fit on the page in ‘portrait mode’ so were printed in landscape. The arrangement has multiple musical qualities and is another show of skill and craftsmanship. I must say this shows a great relationship between Oli Hazzard and Carcanet as I’m sure this would have caused some challenges when printing. 

Buy this book if you’re into poetry that is thought-provoking in terms of theme and form, like some humour and a musical quality to your poetry. This is a collection that stretches traditional themes into the current poetic sphere.

To buy Sleepers Awake, visit the Carcanet Press here: https://www.carcanet.co.uk/cgi-bin/indexer?product=9781800172999

Favorite Poem: 

Progress: Real and Imagined for the sheer scale, effort and complexity.

Before You Go…

Black Bough Poetry has an open mic on Wednesday 12 March 2025 kicking off at 7:15 pm. It’s a great forum to test poems in a supportive environment with a wonderful host, Matthew Smith. Details here.

One More Thing…

Full House Literary have released the latest issue of their litmag and it is visually stunning with incredible poetry, prose, art and other fascinating creative work.  Read it here.

And Finally…

Broken Spine Arts is running a weekly poetry prompt on Blue Sky. #PoemsAbout is every Friday and they also now run a regular #PoemsAbout open mic to get involved in. Find out more about the open mic here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Chris Campbell
  • Poet: All Island, No Sea

Take it easy and stay poetic,

Paul

The Book Bag: Fast Music by Hugo Williams

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.

This week was the first week of training in my new role at work and has been busy but I’ve enjoyed every minute. My new teammates are great and have been very welcoming. At the weekend I got to Alnwick StoryFest to listen to some speakers and picked up next week’s Book Bag collection at Barter Books. I’ve also written and edited a few pieces in an attempt to curate a pamphlet.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Fast Music

  • Author: Hugo Williams
  • Press: Faber & Faber

I picked up my copy of Fast Music on my recent visit to Richmond. It was tucked in the wrong place on the shelf, or the right place as it grabbed my attention and I bought it alongside Heritage Aesthetics. 

Fast Music is split into two parts; Part 1 focuses on daily life, and Part 2 is an arrangement of sonnets charting a love affair. 

‘Fast Music’ is a great display of injecting nostalgia and humour into a poem without overcooking it. The image of ‘black bakelite planets spinning to heaven’ made me smile and reach for my vinyl. Throughout the collection, lyrics and music are mentioned including the opening piece ‘Undiscovered Islands’ which sees Williams as a sailor looking to chart his way through life. ‘Pennies From Heaven’, also the title of a Bing Crosby song, is a poem of two halves depicting his father as both serious and fun-loving.

‘Pause For Thought’ is a contemplation about how you can see yourself in a moment however this will look completely different to an onlooker. The fact this is a poem about being unable to write a poem but looking like he is writing is very meta. 

‘Enter Mr White’ gives a glimpse into Williams’ attitude towards declining health and what may lie beyond. References to medical science are throughout this piece until it transfers to saintdom, notably the Mexican day of the dead.

Dark humour can be found in the poem ‘Fear School’, where schoolboy name-calling (adopted by the teacher also) culminates in the subject of the piece, seeking revenge. It feels immature when you read it, but it displays actions and consequences, although subverted. 

The sonnets in the collection are tremendously varied. ‘The Plunge Club’ spills excitement from the page, whereas ‘Sell-by Date’ is a wry conversation on condoms, both the use and the lack of opportunity to use. Not your typical sonnets. The sonnets take you every which way in terms of feeling. ‘Blue Angel’ has an authentic sense of true longing.

This is a great buy for poetry and music lovers.

Although I wasn’t familiar with Hugo Williams’s work before reading this (yes, this makes me look like an amateur based on the awards and recognition he’s received), I’ll be tracking down his previous work to relish the wit throughout this work. 

You can find Fast Music available to buy here along with a small biography.

Favorite Poem: 

The Story So Far.

Before You Go…

I, alongside 11 other poets have been nominated for The Broken Spine Reader’s Choice Award 2025 for my poem ‘The Thief’. Voting runs from 1st -7th of March 2025. Details can be found here. 

And Finally…

Black Bough Poetry has an open mic on Wednesday 12 March 2025 kicking off at 7:15pm. It’s a great forum to test poems in a supportive environment with a wonderful host, Matthew Smith. Details here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Sleepers Awake
  • Poet: Oli Hazzard 

Take it easy and stay poetic,

Paul

The Book Bag – Ever Striding Edge by Paul Brookes

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.

This week has been busy; I attended an open mic, enjoyed a poetry workshop, said goodbye to my old team at work, saw some crocus and snowdrops emerge from the front lawn, and enjoyed TopTweetTuesday and PoemsAbout. Plus, I sent a couple of submissions off. 

I also got my hands on a copy of High Rise: Brutalist Poetry, a brutalist-inspired anthology, with one of my poems. Details of the anthology are here.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Ever Striding Edge

  • Author: Paul Brookes
  • Press: Dark Winter Press

Paul Brookes is a positive force for poetry. He writes, engages with and promotes other poets and creatives through the Wombwell Rainbow and Starbeck Orion. He has displayed a couple of my pieces in his Starbeck Orion publication on Substack. I have heard him read on several occasions and each time the emotion in his words left an impact. 

Ever Striding Edge is an intimate and heartwrenching collection of poems about family and grief and is the final collection in a septology of work. It is heavy with emotion, impact and experiences that many will be able to relate to. It begins on Striding Edge in the Lake District, where the powerful tone is set. 

A common thread throughout is breath. Both in the language and the opportunity to breathe between book sections. It is most apparent in poems including ‘Long Gallery’, ‘Her Stopping’ and ‘His Knaresborough’.

The imagery and references throughout the book reminded me of growing up in the 80s and 90s in Northumberland. The most notable of which is ‘In My Mam’s Mind’s Eye’. ‘I Watch Athletics With My Mam’ further details the relationship with his mother.

I have bookmarked the poem ‘I Sup Fathoms’. This brought a lump to my throat and I needed fresh air after reading. This also happened reading the section titled ‘The Day Grandad Disappeared’. It reminded me of my Great Granda Jock.

When discussing interactions with nature, Paul’s imagery is highly accomplished, this is no surprise after seeing plenty of his work in print and online. Multiple examples of this include; ‘Petals Open Wide At’, ‘Believe’, ‘In Nanna’s Garden’ and ‘Our Moorland’. 

This is a collection that teems with authenticity throughout. At times stark and others delicate, this book is brave, special and important.

Find out more about Paul here: https://thewombwellrainbow.com/ 

To get a copy of the book via Dark Winter Lit, click here: https://www.darkwinterlit.com/darkwinter-press?pgid=lm866r7x-3841dfe7-e5f2-4290-8c85-77b1a470b2c1 

Favorite Poem:
A Trimming Up. Followed closely by Protect.

Before You Go

I was clearing out space on my phone this week and I revisited a poem I wrote a while ago. This is Amateur Photos.

And Finally…
Next weekend I’m heading to Alnwick Storyfest. I’m looking forward to hearing poetry and buying some new books.

Next Week’s Read

Looking ahead, here’s what’s next in The Book Bag

  • Title: Fast Music
  • Author: Hugo Williams

Take it easy and stay poetic,

Paul

The Book Bag – Heritage Aesthetics by Anthony Anaxagarou

Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week.

This week, I celebrated my birthday, attended Cullerpoets writing group, had a blast at the secure dog field with the pooch, jammed at sax practice, drafted some poems and edited several others.  

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Heritage Aesthetics

  • Author: Anthony Anaxagorou
  • Press: Granta Poetry

I was already a fan of Anthony Anaxagorou having read After the Formalities a few years ago. I was drawn to the incisive, sharp observations contained throughout. I also had a copy of How To Write, his book published by Merky which was a great resource when I was a new writer. I may still have it in my bookshelves. So, when I saw a copy of Heritage Aesthetics in a London Bookshop, I bought it immediately.

Heritage Aesthetics looks at the impact of imperialism and colonialism, culture, politics and hope, through a series of poems that go from fierce to tender and back again and how his British and Cypriot heritage influence his identity. 

The pieces throughout this collection use sharp, visceral language. Poems including ‘Endgame’, ‘My Weapons are Working People’ and ‘We Are Us Now’ are all exceptional examples of this dealing with very different topics.

‘Futurist Primer’ is a tremendous commentary on violence, masculinity and contradictions. The way that a stabbing is mentioned once displays how we are so used to violence that any shock quickly fades. 

Identity is grappled with head-on in pieces such as ‘Now My Ego Wants Better Things’ and ‘Text Message’. Vivid language and narration choices in these poems are deftly considered.

I admire the poem ‘On Leave Until’ for how it weaves hope and softness around some sharp edges. 

Throughout the book, he experiments with different forms to deliver maximum impact. This can be seen in ‘For Those Who Demand Evidence’, a train of thought that goes full throttle down the centre of the pages. Another example is ‘Inner Lone Drift’. Spacing, line breaks and punctuation give a real sense of his internalised conversation, with the language choices powerful and emotive. The opening poem to Territory 2 (part two of the book) and ‘Perhaps: A Rhetoric’ highlight Cyprus through other people’s eyes using found words in different ways.

The thing I love most about this collection is the raw honesty and heart-on-the-sleeve feel this has to it. The title poem (and my favourite in the collection) ‘Heritage Aesthetics’ layers emotion, identity, philosophy and hope. This book is in the top 5 collections I’ve read in the past couple of year for its distinctiveness.

Buy this book if you’re a fan of poetry that weaves intricate tapestries of heritage, culture and identity with emotion and guile. Actually, just buy this book.

To learn more about Anthony Anaxagarou, his website can be found; https://anthonyanaxagorou.com/ where you can also purchase his books.

Favorite Poem:
Heritage Aesthetics, closely followed by Inner Lone Drift. 

One More Thing…
If you want to try an open mic out as a reader or audience member, Black Bough Poetry is hosting one of its welcoming and supportive evenings on Sunday 23rd February 2025. Details here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/black-bough-poetry-open-mic-tickets-1231348128399?aff=erelexpmlt&_gl=1*5ftk2v*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTk4NjExOTQwNC4xNzM5NjIwMDI0*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*MTczOTYyMDAyNC4xLjAuMTczOTYyMDAyNC4wLjAuMA..

And Finally…
Tomorrow sees the release of High Rise; Brutalist Poetry anthology from Broken Spine Arts. One of my poems is included which I’m very happy about. I’ll share more details next week.

Next Week’s Read

Looking ahead, here’s what’s next in The Book Bag

  • Title: Ever Striding Edge
  • Author: Paul Brookes

Take it easy and stay poetic,

Paul