Welcome back to The Book Bag. Last week, I shared my thoughts on Consolamentum. The launch on Zoom via Black Bough Poetry was a great evening of poetry with some incredibly special guests.
This week, between following the US Election, seeing fireworks and enjoying a delicious meal in Northumberland, I’ve been reading;
Elemental
- Author: Helen Laycock
- Press: Independently Published
I was lucky to meet Helen at 2024’s Black Bough Poetry Party in Neath after reading her poetry on Twitter/X for @TopTweetTuesday. I was drawn to her work as she used space on the page in multiple poems rather than having a singular alignment. Also, the fact Helen is such a lovely force in the poetry community is another reason I enjoy her work.
Elemental was released in 2024 and is a collection of poems based around the elements of air, fire, earth and water. The poems are a tapestry of imagery, sound, motion and emotion.
In Helen’s poetry, space is used to great effect. This is highlighted in the piece ‘Water Gasp’ as it moves through centralised stanzas into separated lines that control the flow and emphasise the emotion and movement. It also allows the reader to fully take in the scene delivered through vivid language. The poem ‘Spooling Light’ resembles a reel, matching the subject matter. It is a terrific poem delivered in so few words.
For fans of intricate imagery, read ‘Winter Flame’. That was my wife’s favourite piece of the collection. Other vivid pieces in the collection include Snowflakes, Communion, Stunned and Hare.
Helen weaves emotion through her poetry. ‘Lovelight’, ‘Whale Fall’ and ‘The Sadness of The Tree Spirit’ are heavy with meaning and made me pause to reflect.
If you want vivid poetry that packs a punch, and where various forms are used, buy this book. I’d buy it just to read my favourite poem (below). It is exquisite and special.
Favorite Poem:
‘An Ocean of Orca Tears’. It is an emotional journey about a mother’s grief at the loss of a child. Full of heart, full of impact.
‘Hare’ is a close second.
One More Thing…
Throughout the book, Helen has added quotes about the elements. These markers help adjust the reader to a different state before moving to the next. I found the quote by Tony Robbins preceding the ‘Fire’ section and the initial piece ‘Lovelight’ heightened the emotional aspect.
Read more about Helen’s other poetry at https://helenlaycock.wixsite.com/marbleintocloud.
Next Week’s Read
Looking ahead, here’s what’s lined up for my book bag next week;
- Title: Toccata and Fugue with Harp
- Author: Margaret Royall
For Remembrance Sunday, I wrote a small poem called ‘War Memorial’. Find it here: War Memorial
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
Paul Writes Poems 