poetry review

The Book Bag: New Famous Phrases by Daniel Hinds

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

In a week where I’ve received some voice messages from an array of characters, celebrated my Father-in-laws 70th birthday, attended a work conference on the other side of the River Tyne, enjoyed some sunshine, caught up with friends and watched Newcastle beat Leicester 3-0, I have also managed to finish a couple of audiobooks.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

New Famous Phrases

  • Poet: Daniel Hinds
  • Press: Broken Sleep Books


I first came across Daniel Hinds at a Black Bough Poetry Open Mic. A familiar accent and some exceptionally well-read pieces were enough to get me to find out more. Luckily his debut collection has just been released so I thought, I’ll have that.

New Famous Phrases is a collection that appreciates poetry and includes conversations with, and responses to, poems that came before. That’s not all though, the poetry within these pages is fresh, inventive (including prose poetry reviews) and sharp.

The poems ‘Crying of the Gulls’ and ‘Earth Giant’ are just two of the catalogue of incredible imagery rich pieces in this collection. The language and points of reference bring scenery to life and ground you in the moment. ‘Keeping Watch’ is another excellent display, placing the reader in the first lockdown.

There are strong evocative pieces throughout the collection. Pieces such as ‘I Haunt You Back’, ‘Sundog Howl’ and ‘Lady of the Rock’ are just some of the poems that make you pause.

Form is used in multiple ways. In fact, Daniel’s book reviews in the form of prose poems were commended in the National Centre for Writing’s UEA New Forms Award 2021. Obviously the dialogue poetry in itself is a form that plays a pivotal role in the collection also. ‘Phillip Pullman’s Graduation’ is a response piece that is divided into sections which adds to an extra dimension.

For fans of myths and heroes, you’re in for a treat. ‘Banquet For Penelope’ is a tremendous poem that contains perceptive imagery, taut emotion, clever wordplay and a cast of heroes. The piece ‘The Magi’s Camel’ in response to T.S Eliot is another remarkable example, vivid with a palpable undercurrent.

Daniel does humour and wit really well. Poems including ‘Untitled, The Fourth Monster’ (which contains some great northern vernacular) and Cryptid (The Mystery of Water) are standouts. The latter being perfect satire for the 2020’s. Also, throughout are some footnotes that will make you chuckle.

The conversation poetry is expertly done. None of the pieces feel clunky or in the realm of unintentional parody and caricature. The piece ‘The Train Goes Backwards’ is a great response to Ezra Pound’s ‘In A Station Of The Metro’.

Yes, you’ve read that correctly. I’ve mentioned Pound and Eliot, there’s also some Hughes responses, HD, Shelley, Keats, Wordsworth and more. All considered to be greats, so to tackle them could have been deemed a risk. But with great risk comes greater reward. Which is what this book ultimately is.

Buy New Famous Phrases if you like creative, inventive poetry that is rich in imagery and emotion that brings the old greats into the modern era with responses, challenges and respect.

Favourite Poem:

Cryptid (The Mystery of Water).

To learn more about Daniel, read his Society of Authors profile here.

New Famous Phrases is available to buy on Broken Sleep Books here.

One More Thing…

Daniel was this week’s host of Top Tweet Tuesday, posting a challenge to open dialogue with an imagist poem. My contribution can be found here.

And Another…

If you read The Book Bag last week, you’ll know that Debone & Fold has an online launch coming up on April 17th with special guests. To find out more, click the Broken Spine Arts events page here. You will also be able to check out upcoming workshops and other events.

And Finally…

Keep your eyes peeled for The Book Bag dropping a special Bonus episode on Wednesday.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Smatterings of Cerulean
  • Poet: Susan Richardson

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

Paul

The Book Bag: Debone & Fold by Si Griffiths

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

Well this week has been fun. A trip to Northumberland, bagged myself some proper Craster Kippers, got out and about in the sunshine and walked the dog under sunsets the colour of beach towels. Got to read at the Broken Spine Arts open mic, caught up with some good friends, finished reading Understorey and my copy of the Poetry Review and my Cult of The Spiny Hog Goody box arrived.

On top of that, I’ve been reading;

Debone & Fold

  • Poet: Si Griffiths
  • Press: Broken Spine Arts

When I first heard that Si Griffiths’ debut, Debone & Fold was set against the backdrop of professional kitchens, I thought YES!!! (You probably won’t know this but I’ve been a trained chef since 18 and worked in kitchens until Covid.)

Being a chef is a tough job. It’s also a highly skilled yet mainly underpaid job. It’s not glamorous. To be a chef you need to be uncompromising, relentless and fearless, firing on all cylinders emotionally and mentally and understanding that you’re only as good as your last service (a lot like poetry).

Debone & Fold is served like a meal in a good restaurant. The courses, named in Italian, allow breath and relaxation before moving on to the next plate.

The opening poem drops us directly into the heart of the kitchen. ‘Zero Hours +/- ’ is an unwavering, unflinchingly authentic piece on the pressures and challenges that chefs face daily especially during busy periods, in this case December. This is not a glamourised made-for-tv kitchen, this is the real deal. It’s so vivid, I started thinking about the mise-en-place I used to do and sighed relief at the realisation I don’t have that responsibility anymore.


The relentless environment is also explored in the poem ‘Regimental Anarchy’ but in a different way. Every chef across the country has experienced the treatment dished out by that Sous.

The darker side of kitchens comes to the forefront in the piece ‘To Pass The Pass’. This situation would have been observed by many chefs over the years. I’ve witnessed some fairly shady stuff in some of the places I’ve worked.

This book reminds me of a quote by the late Anthony Bourdain, ‘The cooking profession, while it’s a noble craft and a noble calling, ’cause you’re doing something useful – you’re feeding people, you’re nurturing them, you’re providing sustenance – it was never pure.’

The collection isn’t all about the blood, sweat and tears. There are tender moments scattered throughout in the tale of a romantic relationship evolving over time including the poem ‘Hors d’Ouvres’. This is a piece that takes the chef from the kitchen and shows the other side. Dining out, sharing a special meal with another, lost in the moment. The realisation that it’s closing time as the chairs are stacked is a great image.

Si is creative with form. Carefully plating up pieces including ‘Gangplank’, ‘Long Term Love’ and ‘Temper Temper’. The way they are laid out and read give extra depth. A recipe poem is tricky but the skill in which ‘Long Term Love’ is crafted is exceptional.

There’s a real level of detail in this collection. In ‘All In The Game’ the handling of produce is described meticulously. The respect Si Griffiths shows for ingredients is a cornerstone of a being a great chef that translates into being a great poet, where words are now his raw materials aside from the deft touch addressing produce. I must also mention the poem ‘Michelin’ and references to the mother sauces, Escoffier and other little morsels. They authenticate Si’s knowledge, skill and experience in the kitchen.

Insight into a chef’s mentality is expertly displayed in ‘Don’t Do Things By Halves’. Any chef who has pride in their work can be easily disappointed sitting in a restaurant where ‘fresh’ only comes in the form of a sliced lemon. This becomes an issue when trying to remain present for your partner or family. It’s not a case of snobbery, it’s pride in the craft.


This collection is passionate, authentic and unflinching with steel-sharpened observations. For me, it was like a delicious meal, finished in one sitting but with a couple of my favourite pieces set aside to return for leftovers. I’ve gone back to it three times already. It is now sitting on my bookshelf with Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential.

Favourite Poem:
I can’t pick just one so I’ll give you three. ‘Apron Strings’, ‘A Moment Brocaded’ and ‘It’s All In The Game.’ I could easily extend my choices such is the depth.

You can buy Debone & Fold here.

You can also join the online launch of Debone & Fold taking place on April 17th at 7pm. Details here.

One More Thing…

Alongside their workshops that contribute to the 2026 Poetry Award fund, Broken Spine Arts currently have 2 submission windows. A call for short stories with a festive theme and a window for coming of age poetry. The Broken Spine website can be accessed here.

And Another…

Black Bough Poetry have one of their open mic’s coming up. On Sunday 13th April 2025 you can join a welcoming and supportive environment to read three short poems or sit back and relax and take in the wondrous poetic performances. Booking details are here – I’ll be there.

And Another…

The final touches are getting put together for my online writing group with invites to a taster session going out by 14/04/2025.

And Finally…

Keep an eye out for a surprise bonus edition of The Book Bag coming very soon.

Next Week’s Read

  • Title: Famous New Phrases
  • Poet: Daniel Hinds

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

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

The Book Bag – Consolamentum by James McConachie

Welcome back to The Book Bag. Last week, I shared my thoughts on Street Sailing by Matt Gilbert

This week, between a lovely curry at Dabbawal in Newcastle, trying to figure out what the budget means and some windswept hair that had me looking like a combo of Beetlejuice and Cousin It, I’ve been reading…

Consolamentum

  • Author: James McConachie
  • Press: Black Bough Poetry

I’ve heard James perform at Black Bough open mic nights in the past, his pieces always elicit a strong sense of place and pack a punch. When his new book was released in October, I ordered it the same day and waited (im)patiently for it to arrive from Amazon. While I waited, I watched some promotional videos that indicated that the book would be something special.

James gives the rugged landscape of his home in Northern Spain voice and personality throughout the book. Poems such as Cusp Of The Last Cold Moon, Off Grid 414ppm, Granada and Mientras Podamos are full of vivid imagery. When reading, my mind drifted to these scenes as if I were there, such is the level of detail. 

Rich representations of the people and culture are delivered in pieces like Yula, Tres Mujeres and Montauban. This is such a clever book and it made me so nostalgic for Spain (I was lucky enough to have done work experience in the South of Spain including at a residence used by Ernest Hemingway when I was just out of school). I stayed with a lovely family from Spain and we communicated in broken English and Spanish. 

Some of the poems in this collection shine a light on today’s wrongs, none more so than Tensile Strength that grips you in a headlock as you read it, coming out the other end with a dizzy feeling of unease and sorrow.

Read this book if you want to go on an emotional journey through the wilds of Northern Spain with some postcards from the UK. Or if you’re a fan of exemplary poetry, chock-full of imagery. This is a great debut.

Favorite Poem:
Liebre or Pig – two very different poems. Both class.

One More Thing…
The poem, Summer of ‘23, was recently featured in issue 2 of The Madrid Review.

Finally…

You can see the launch of Consolamentum live on Zoom on Sunday 2 November 2024, tickets are free and available via Black Bough Poetry on Eventbrite. See https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/black-bough-poetry-online-launch-of-james-mcconachies-consolamentum-tickets-1059127612199. 

Find more information on James McConachie and Consolamentum and read testimonies here; https://www.blackboughpoetry.com/consolamentum-james-mcconachie where you can find links to buy his book.

Next Week’s Read

Looking ahead, here’s what’s lined up for my book bag next week;

  • Title: Elemental
  • Author: Helen Laycock

That’s it for this week’s reading roundup! If you’ve read any of the books I’m sharing or have recommendations for what poetry I should be reading, drop a comment below. If you want to read some of my poems, have a look around the site.

Take it easy

Paul

The Book Bag – Street Sailing by Matt Gilbert

Welcome back to The Book Bag. Last week, I shared my thoughts on The Language of Bees by Rae Howells. 

This week, between Sax practice, attending my first writer’s circle and some bitter cold temperatures, I’ve been reading…

Street Sailing

  • Author: Matt Gilbert
  • Press: Black Bough Poetry

I was lucky to meet Matt at 2023’s Black Bough Poetry Party in Neath after reading his poetry on Twitter/X for @TopTweetTuesday. By all accounts, he is a decent, genuine chap and a very talented poet. It was a highlight meeting him. 

Street Sailing was released in 2023 and is an exquisite debut collection of poems that provide sensory portraits of daily life across a span of settings, full of imagery and texture. 

The bustling market of ‘Ridley Road’ is vividly brought to life in the pages, bringing back memories of when I spent a few months working on a market stall selling fleeces and coats (in the middle of summer – a job I didn’t excel in), is a prime example of this. 

Matt brings his emotion to the pages in the poem ‘Father’s Day’ revelling in his parenthood and in ‘I made a mess of my own pathetic fallacy’, he gives an introspection that combines tragedy and self-deprecation.

I’d highly recommend reading Street Sailing if you want to see life captured through an inventive and rich lens. Don’t just take my word for it either, it has plenty of strong reviews online and one of the poems, ‘Foxed’, was nominated for a Forward Best Single Poem prize. I loved reading this.

Favorite Poem:
‘Undercliff’. It brims with rich language, vivid imagery, nostalgia and achievement. 

One More Thing…
The cover artwork by Ben Pearce perfectly matches the urban poetry that is dotted throughout the book.

Read more about Matt Gilbert at https://richlyevocative.net/ and https://www.blackboughpoetry.com/matt-gilbert 

Next Week’s Read

Looking ahead, here’s what’s lined up for my book bag next week;

  • Title: Consolamentum
  • Author: James McConachie

That’s it for this week’s reading roundup! If you’ve read any of the books I’m sharing or have recommendations for what poetry I should be reading, drop a comment below. 

Take it easy

Paul

The Book Bag – The Language of Bees

Welcome to a new feature on Paul Writes Poems. Every Sunday, I’ll be sharing the poetry pamphlet, anthology or collection I’ve been reading that week! Each week will feature a different book and I’ll let you know how I enjoyed it.

On a week where the only weather I didn’t have was snow, I spent my breaks and downtime reading; 

The Language of Bees

  • Author: Rae Howells
  • Press: Parthian

After reading Rae Howell’s, This Common Uncommon (which I recommend if you believe that wild spaces should be kept and not built upon), I wanted to read more. Her characterisation and smart word-play in This Common Uncommon had me going page to page and almost devoured it in one sitting.

In my opinion, The Language of Bees is an outstanding collection, (an opinion shared with lots of others, including the judging panel at Wales Book of The Year 2023) that talks about the importance of bees to humans and climate change in an engaging way. The way insects are used to discuss personal themes including loss, loss love and other deep human tragedy is tremendously done with care taken over each word. 

I’d highly recommend reading this if you’re a fan of poetry that deals with nature and has very personal and broader themes packed with smart language and incredible imagery. I would say to have some tissues handy as some pieces are highly emotive.

Favorite Poem:
A bit of a cheat here but my favourite is a sequence of poems that are sprinkled throughout the book with the title Dying Bee in a Takeaway Box. 

Find out more about Rae Howells at https://www.raehowells.co.uk/ where you can find links to her other books.

Next Week’s Read

Looking ahead, here’s what’s lined up for my book bag next week;

  • Title: Street Sailing
  • Author: Matt Gilbert

That’s it for this week one. If you’ve read any of the books I’m sharing or have recommendations for what poetry I should be reading, drop a comment below. 

Take it easy

Paul