poetry book review

The Book Bag: Drench Me In Silver by Saraswati Nagpal

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

What a week. Work has been non-stop. The days have been rolling into each other, and I wake up thinking it’s the wrong day! I did relax watching Newcastle progress in the League Cup this week too. Hopefully we can be back to back winners. Fingers crossed. Another good thing that happened was speaking to Matthew Smith live from my back garden.

The weather hasn’t been great. However, a break meant last Sunday started with a trip to the allotment to plant some garlic and herbs. Also, I dug out a fruit cage which was hard work plus the radishes we planted a couple of weeks ago are showing good signs of growth. I got over on Saturday too and covered some ground with woodchip. We also planned next steps and focus as we want to prepare for spring planting before the winter frosts.

On the poetry front, I’ve submitted two pieces, added a micro review to Pascale Petit’s Poetic Voice feature and shared the first date for The Book Bag: Open Mic Sessions, with spaces starting to be taken up. The first session will take place on Sunday 9th November at 7pm via zoom.  I was also in the audience of the Winged Moon’s online launch of Biophilia which was top class excellent readings. I must mention Jai Michelle’s passion for The Winged Moon, it really shone through when discussing the project.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Cover Art “Daughter of the Moon” by Swapna Maini

Drench Me In Silver

  • Poet: Saraswati Nagpal
  • Press: Black Bough Poetry

I first encountered Saraswati’s poetry on TopTweetTuesday and was captivated by her beautiful language and consistent considered pieces. Then, I heard Saraswati read at a Black Bough zoom open mic, and found her reading to be even more captivating, almost hypnotic. If you have the chance to hear Saraswati read, take it.

Drench Me in Silver is Saraswati’s debut collection and has been nominated for both the Forward Prize and the Tagore Prize by Black Bough Poetry. The book is separated into sections relating to rain. Staring with Memories of Rain going through to Petrichor.

One of Saraswati’s major strengths is her ability to weave passion and sensuousness into her pieces that the reader becomes invested quickly. Poems including ‘Drench Me In Silver’ and ‘Cape Winters’ feel sumptuous and luxurious. As does the poem ‘Night’s Lapis Dome’ . I mentioned that poem during my conversation with Matthew Smith, it stayed with me.

As someone who has read continuously read work by Saraswati almost weekly via the magnificent poetry jamboree, TopTweetTuesday, it is no surprise that emotion underpins a lot of the pieces in a clever, layered way. ‘Toward Joy’, ‘Intezaar’ and ‘Sawaan Serenade’ are perfect displays of this. One piece that stands out is ‘Of Whales and Love’. If you’ve read my Book Bag entry on Helen Laycock’s Elemental, you will know I have a soft spot for whale poetry.

Fans of mythology are well catered for. ‘Persephone’s Lament’, ‘Women In Myths Are Tumbling Out Of My Closet’, ‘Forge’ and are all superb poems. ‘Orison For The Lost’ is another marvel discussing mythology with terrific imagery and language choices. You will notice in the collection that Saraswati has a great understanding of different pantheons and figureheads.

The importance of place is a constant theme throughout. ‘Daughter of Sindh’ is an incredible piece that discusses the usurping of heritage and lands Mountbatten and his role as the Last Viceroy but also the intimate personal repercussions and consequences following the aftermath felt by Saraswati and her family. ‘Dusk by Ganga’ is a lyrical piece that is soft and filled with hope. I must mention the sound patterning from the recurring r’s at the opening of the piece. They add a wonderful cadence to the poem. ‘Beside a Rose-Merchant, Kashmir’ is a tender piece that immerses you in a Kashmir market with sensory delight.

Form and space are played with throughout the book. We have the powerful tercet ‘Descendant’. ‘Songs of Chaos’ plays with the space on the page focusing on the precise wording. We have ‘after poetry’ including the lush ‘Prayer for Monsoon’. Another thing to add is Saraswati’s approach to free verse. It is expert as is her precise, beautiful language.

This collection will appeal to readers who want poetry with deep connections, immaculate language and vivid imagery. Appreciators of mythology will love this book. This is poetry that embraces you and guides you through time and place, the kind you want to get lost in a while and linger. I’ll be buying another copy as a present for somebody for Christmas.

Favourite Poem:

I’ve already mentioned ‘Daughter of Sindh’ and ‘Of Whales and Love’. There are so many to choose from, but I will stick to another handful as I write this. ‘Hero’, ‘Denouement in Citrine’, ‘Last Daughter’, ‘Spear-child’ and ‘Night Wanderers’. Oh, I’ll also mention ‘Diwali’s Velvety Nights’ and ‘Night’s Lapis Dome’ .

To learn more about Saraswati, click here

To buy Drench Me in Silver, click here

And what would The Book Bag be without a playlist. So here is a mix to listen to while reading a beautiful collection.

Anuv Jain – Mishri
Dream Note – Waqt Ki Baatein
When Chai Met Toast – Ocean Tide
Mali – Horoscope
Maren Morris – The Bones
Billie Myers – Kiss The Rain
Eurythmics – Here Comes The Rain Again
Planetopia – Catch and Release
Anumita Nadesan – Khwaab
Bombay Jayashiri – Zara Zara
Anoushka Shankar – Beloved
Tyrone Wells – Days I Will Remember

Before I Go…

I said at the start, if you get the chance to hear Saraswati reading, take it… Well, Saraswati and Black Bough are holding an online launch for Drench Me In Silver on Sunday 5th October. Tickets & Details here.

One More Thing…

I mentioned sharing the details of The Book Bag: Open Mic Sessions. Join me for an evening of sharing polished gems and roughcut coals in a supportive environment. Details and tickets can be found here.

And Another…

It’s almost the end of September. On Wednesday, The Book Bag: Poetic Voice for October will be unveiled. Another exceptional talent and award-winner…

While you wait, why not check out Pascale’s September feature here which now has a playlist and micro-review of Beast.

And Finally…

It’s National Poetry Day this week. This year the theme is ‘play’. I’ll be sharing a poem on Thursday on social media in response. Are you planning on participating in National Poetry Day? Let me know in the comments.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Why I Wear My Past To Work
  • Poet: Chris Campbell

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Maybe I’ll Call Gillian Anderson by Rhian Elizabeth

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

Welcome back to The Book Bag! What a couple of weeks. Let’s start with writing – The Book Bag: Poetic Voice for September was revealed and I’m so happy to be featuring Pascale Petit who has been incredible to communicate with.

I’ve sent several submissions out for different things. Been to a couple of open mics. I also had the August meeting of Write Here, Right Now. Maybe you saw the news on Instagram of an exciting forthcoming opportunity. I’m super happy to be creating an anthology of poetry and am looking forward to reviewing the submissions when they come in.

Away from writing, I’ve been jamming on my saxophone, met up with my mates for the first time in a long time for football, food and a few drinks which was a great laugh. Also my wife and I have signed up for our first allotment and have been busy digging out weeds and preparing for winter sowing. My body ached after day one from shearing down thistles. I’m looking forward to reading collections on the small patio area once it’s complete.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Maybe I’ll Call Gillian Anderson

  • Poet: Rhian Elizabeth
  • Press: Broken Sleep Books


I’ve read some of Rhian’s work online prior to reading Maybe I’ll Call Gillian Anderson and had heard excellent things about the book. I also saw Rhian standing up for what’s right by withdrawing from the Polari Prize. So without further ado, let’s jump back into The Book Bag…

One of Rhian’s key strengths is her honesty and humour in her poetry. The poem ‘To The Girl Who Said I’ll Never Be Happy Because I’m Too Picky’ is unflinching, smart and hilarious. I completely agree with the first couplet following the opening. The opening poem ‘Maybe I’ll Call Gillian Anderson’ swings from tragedy to laugh out loud funny to sad in quick succession.

A theme within the book is relationships. Whether familial, romantic, friendship or otherwise, Rhian is explicit and unapologetic when discussing these. ‘Glasgow’ is an excellent piece that feels relatable, starting in the confines of a kitchen then expanding outward. ‘Boxing Day Night And My Daughter Drives Us Back In The Fog’ is an emotive piece about the change in status between mother and daughter with an ending that feels triumphant without cliché.

There’s also a dark side to this theme. ‘The Photograph & The Man Who Took It’ made me rage and I had to stop reading and take the dog out to calm down.

There are some excellent pieces on introspection. ‘Camden’ (one of my favourites) is letter littered with stream of consciousness and imagery. ‘Mona Lisa Mona Lisa’ is another perfect example but through a different lens.

Throughout the book, Rhian plays with styles and space. ‘Drowning on a Strangers Couch’ has a wonderful prose feel is completely different to ‘Sea Glass’ which plays with space, (another of my favourites).

This book will appeal to poetry fans of uncompromising, unflinching raw poetry that is filled with humour. If you like your poetry to have an emotional connection that makes you feel it in your bones, you will love this book. I love it for all of those reasons and more, a unique, authentic, captivating collection.

To buy, Maybe I’ll Call Gillian Anderson, click here.

Favourite Poem:
I’ve already mentioned a couple in ‘Sea Glass’ and ‘Camden’ so I’ll add another three into the mix although I could choose a ton more. ‘Ribbons’, ‘Cry Like A Bitch’ and ‘Amsterdam’ are what I’ll go for today.

Oh, you didn’t think I’d forget the playlist did you…

Catatonia – Mulder and Scully
Bananarama – Venus
Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes
Rachel Stamp – My Sweet Rose
Barbara Streisand – The Way We Were
Blur – Coffee and TV
Schubert – Ave Maria, Op 52 No. 6 D.839
Blondie – Call Me
Hal feat. Gillan Anderson – Extremis
Mark Snow – The X-Files Theme

Before I Go…

On Friday 12th September 2025, Chris Campbell is launching his latest collection from Parlyaree Press, ‘Why I Wear My Past To Work’. I have been asked to read at the launch, which I’m incredibly grateful for. If you want to see Chris launch his book and hear some of the work from its pages as well as a excellent lineup of other poets, check the Parlyaree Press website here.

One More Thing…

The Broken Spine have opened submissions for their latest slimline anthology. You can submit poems for Verdigris until the end of September. Send your best work. Full details here.

And Another…

If you’re looking to read stunning poetry and view exceptional artwork, look no further than Biophilia from The Winged Moon. Find it here.

And Finally…

It’s great to be back! I’m looking forward to sharing lots more amazing pamphlets and collections with you and the concealed pockets will be opened to share a few different things.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Husband Material Volume 2: 27 Addresses
  • Poet: DL Husband

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

Paul

The Book Bag: The Oasis by Charles Lang

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

This week has been busy with editing, submissions, August’s Poetic Voice feature being launched, the remarkable Rishi Dastidar. I also had one of the loveliest rejection letters I’ve ever had (although I did make the shortlist for consideration which is an achievement in itself). At home we celebrated Brody’s 2nd Birthday – he enjoyed his salmon lunch! We also took a trip to Stanton Gardens and Nursery, Bide-A-Wee Garden near Morpeth and the tremendous Fieldhead Farm to pick wildflowers. We also had some time to relax and harvest the last of the new potatoes that we enjoyed with some tapas.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

The Oasis

  • Poet: Charles Lang
  • Press: Skein Press

I picked up my copy of The Oasis at the Len Pennie event at Jesmond Library a couple of weeks ago – the Poetry Book Society was selling several titles and I went for this – ( I have a connection to the city it’s based in. My maternal Grandfather and his family were originally from Glasgow where this is set). So let’s dive in, also the playlist has returned…

One of Charles Lang’s great strengths is his humour. The opening piece ‘The Chase’ had me reliving my youth, laughing at myself through the poem. ‘Stickers’ had me laughing too, such an authentic poem – I once completed a panini album apart from a handful of stickers in a hospital bed when I was about 12. The use of Glaswegian dialect reinforces the humour especially when reading out loud and realising that your Scot’s accent needs more work.

Glasgow is a city much like Newcastle; built on the backs of working-class families. A key theme throughout is that of strength of character and resilience in the face of challenges. ‘Glasgow Sonnets’, a sequence of sonnets paints the city with respect and authenticity. The collection’s title poem ‘The Oasis’ spotlights the sense of community which is present in the majority of working-class cities. Then in ‘Disturbia’ we are treated to the grit of a city at night.

A theme that’s explored terrifically well is masculinity, a subject that is multi-faceted especially against the backdrop of a working-class culture. Pieces including ‘Boys’ and ‘Darts’ showcase this greatly. Again, the use of dialect adds texture and dimensions to the poetry.

Imagery throughout the collection is vivid. In the poems ‘Spring’ and ‘Helen’s Bay’ familiar scenery unfolds quickly. ‘The Sabbath’ is a snapshot of a poem and is similar to a relaxing Sunday routine at The Book Bag HQ. ‘In Death of A Field’, I felt a pang of nostalgia for the ‘Rec’ me and my friends used to explore daily.

In terms of form and space, they are used in a variety of ways throughout the collection. ‘Thistles’ is a prime example, which takes over a number of pages. Much like a thistle patch taking over land. Another piece ‘A Mess’ is the same poem presented in three different ways, each with a different emphasis in the voice of the narrator.

This book will appeal to people who appreciate themes of identity, masculinity, belonging, class, city life and vivid imagery. For people who appreciate form and style, this book will appeal. For those who love dialect poetry, this will appeal. It sits comfortably in my top 10 from the year so far.

Favourite Poem:

I’ll stick to five this week but it could very well be the whole collection. ‘Lily’, ‘Nightclub’, ‘Scaffolding’, ‘The Oasis’ and ‘Birds’.

To learn more about Charles Lang, click here.

To buy The Oasis, click here.

And here’s a playlist nobody asked for but everyone really wanted;

Gerry Cinnamon – Belter
Amy MacDonald – This Is The Life
Lewis Capaldi – Wish You The Best
Chvrches – Over
Simple Minds – Don’t You
Travis – Flowers In The Window
Deacon Blue – Dignity
Texas – Black Eyed Boy
Primal Scream – Rocks

One More Thing…

There’s still tickets available for the launch of Beautiful Little Fools on Tuesday 5th August 2025. Grab them here.

And Another…

Last week I mentioned the new substack ‘We Are The Choir; Poetry of Witness’. This week one of my pieces will be featuring. ‘Non-Hazardous Product’ is a poem on the destruction of a river and the commodification of water.

And Another…

Full House Literary are open for Submissions from 1 August to 20th August 2025. Details here.

And Finally…

The Black Cat Poetry Press have a competition with the theme ‘Turning Points’ open until 30th September 2025. The brief is broad, more details here.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Vanishing Point
  • Poet: Colin Bancroft

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Cupid, Grown by Adam Panichi

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

This week has been very busy, a bit tiring but exhilarating. A late-night reading on Tuesday at the North Bay Poetics showcase of Alan Parrys work on the theme of masculinity, it was an honour to be asked. On Wednesday I attended an excellent event featuring Len Pennie reading from Poyums and forthcoming Poyums Annaw with an open mic section in Jesmond. I read three poems and felt I done okay. On Thursday it was another instalment of Write Here, Right Now which was very insightful and collaborative. I’ve also had chance to work on some of my own writing and editing.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Cupid, Grown

  • Poet: Adam Panichi
  • Press: Broken Sleep Books


I picked up a copy of Cupid, Grown at an event held at my work where local independent sellers were, well, selling. I was lucky to buy the last poetry book from the indie bookseller who said they’d sold more pamphlets and collections than expected which is always a good thing. So without further ado, let’s dive in, also another playlist at the end of this post.

Evocative imagery is a major highlight of this collection displayed throughout. Poems including ‘Bathhouse’ and ‘Concrete Quarterly’ are both vivid, physical and philosophical. ‘Following A Mild Electric Shock I Think Of England’ is a very clever piece also.

Throughout the collection, there are many visceral pieces. The poem ‘Cotton-Collared Mafiosi’ is stark, raw and unflinching. It made me reflect and revisit things I endured and reconcile myself. ‘Snow’ is an exquisite piece of writing on self and masculinity. ‘The Boys Are Killing Their Sims On The Family PC’ (after Andrew McMillan) is a tour de force in referencing and subverting pop-culture through poetry.

Talking of references, the poem ‘Lilac Bushes’ gets a special mention here. Once I read it, and read it again, I looked up the subject then reread it again. A really sharply crafted piece.

There are some truly delicate moments in this book. Pieces including ‘Carciofi’ and ‘Cloth Mother’ give a glimpse into maternal security and admiration. They are resonant, and, in ‘Carciofi’ the use of Italian and the rich depiction of the kitchen and produce is exceptional. I must also mention the intimacy of ‘Tender’, a beautiful poem.

For fans of styles and forms, there are a multitude used in the book. In the poem ‘Slow Erasure of the Author’ there is the blacking out of words mid-line followed by a tremendous and large scale use of white space. The found piece ‘The Interior Of A Heart’ uses text from The Scarlet Letter by Nigel Hawthorne and is printed in original form which adds to the style of the piece and quality of the book itself. The piece ‘White Soft Paraffin’ uses a / in line breaks elevating the emphasis of the language.

Favourite Poem:

A few to choose from this week so in no order; ‘Flight Feathers’, ‘Lilac Bushes’, ‘Carciofi’, and ‘Cupid, Grown’.

This book will appeal to readers who like raw, honest and unflinching poetry that explores identity and love and relationships. If you like sharp observations and excellent use of language, this will be for you also. A gem of a book.

To find out more about Adam Panichi  and to buy Cupid, Grown click here.

As promised, here’s a small playlist to go with this weeks pamphlet;

Amy Winehouse – Cupid
David Guetta & Kelly Rowland – When Love Takes Over
Pet Shop Boys – Love Comes Quickly
Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In The Dark
Mario Lanza & Constantine Callinicos – Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
Fatboy Slim – Weapon Of Choice
Years & Years – Shine
Verna Felton – Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo
Ludovica Einaudi  – Eros

One More Thing…

Not long to go until August’s Poetic Voice is announced and I am tremendously happy to be featuring this poet. The feature will drop at Noon on August 1st. Unfortunately issues outside of my control meant July’s feature did not land.

And Another…

On 5th August 2025, come along to the launch of Beautiful Little Fools on Zoom with Open Mic. Will I be drinking cocktails? Maybe. Will I be wearing a velvet jacket? Maybe. Will there be glitzy poetry to hear? Definitely. Details here.

And Finally…

I’ll be taking a plunge this week and posting a reading on Instagram. Find me using @paulwritespoems. Give me a watch, even if its to laugh at my amateurishness!

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Dark Skies Die Starless
  • Poet: Jamie Miller

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Soi-même by Victoria Spires

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

This week has been hot and sunny in Newcastle, and I’ve been able to absorb some Vitamin D in the garden (I also tripped over and landed in worm tea – not my finest hour). My wife and I also took the dog to the coast for a walk and ice-cream for breakfast!

On Monday evening, I did have to call the fire brigade during our dog walk. Someone thought it would be funny to set fire to trees in the nearby community orchard where lots of birds are currently nesting. The fire service was on the scene in quick time.

Poetry wise, I was lucky to do a reading and interview, details to be shared soon. Also, I’ve sent out some submissions, had an idea for participants of Write Here, Right Now and did something very exciting. Also, on Friday, the final episode of this season’s Thousand Shades of Green aired which featured work on the theme of water from myself and fellow contributing poets from the season. You can listen here . It was such a privilege to be part of and look forward to returning to feature again in the future.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

  • Poet: Victoria Spires
  • Press: Salò Press

I first read Victoria Spires’ poetry on social media, I want to say in response to a prompt on Top Tweet Tuesday. Since then, I have read her work in multiple anthologies and lit mags where her poetry is always polished and beautifully crafted. She also introduced me to the ‘Sevenling’ form which I have practised a bit. Victoria is also a contributing editor to The Winged Moon, an excellent poetry magazine which has regular competitions and a weekly newsletter.

When Victoria announced on BlueSky that her debut pamphlet was incoming, I jumped straight on the pre-order page (a bargain from Salò Press).

Touch recurs through the book in various ways; ‘On Surrender’ begins tentatively and delicate between two people while the poem ‘Trouble’ looks at the want of haptic feedback from both the writer and inanimate objects like door handles. Poems in the collection are equated to desire (as stated on the back cover) and you definitely feel this upon reading. At points there is real intimacy.

There is an array of forms used in the pamphlet, sometimes from page to page. A prime example is the change of style from ‘A Hawk from A Handsaw’ to ‘Soi-disant’. Each form used gives extra focus to the poems and adds a little mystery before you begin reading.

The way in which emotion is portrayed within the pamphlet aligns with the nature of the poem. In ‘Soi-lui’ there is an edge, confrontational maybe. However, in ‘Orchard’, the emotion is mostly guided through the poem with touch and imagery.

The vocabulary in the collection is also worth mentioning for the sheer scale and precision of use. ‘Moon Almanack’ and ‘Mare Crisium’ taught me a handful of words unfamiliar to me which fit perfectly in place in the pamphlet.

Another benefit of incredible language use is the imagery within pieces such as ‘Brain As Radula’ and ‘Soi-lui’. This is also the case in ‘Sanguis’ which partners image, metaphor and form across the page.

This is a book that will appeal to many. At times it feels very intimate and is filled with poems exquisitely crafted that linger in the mind long afterwards making you return time and again. Highly recommended.

Favourite Poem:

White Gold.

If you want to keep up to date with Victoria, she has recently launched a Substack that can be found here.

To buy your copy of Soi-même (a bargain), click here.

One More Thing…

It was International Dylan Thomas Day on Thursday. Here is one of my favourites. Drop a comment with yours…

And Another…

Broken Spine Arts have an open mic on Thursday 29th May 2025. Details here of this always supportive event.

They have also released spotlights on the contributors to The Whiskey Tree Wave 2. Give them a read, all interesting insights to poetic thinking and inspiration. More info here.

And Another…

Black Bough Poetry are hosting a launch for Regine Ebner’s ‘Mountains That See In The Dark’ on Saturday 7 June 2025 at 630pm UK Time. Details here.

And Finally…

It was great to see recently featured Poyums by Len Pennie win the Discover Award at the 2025 British Book Awards this week. A triumph for poetry and Scots language.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
  • Poet: Taz Rahman

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

Paul