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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

Advent Calendar Poem #24: A Mild Christmas Eve

The low dawn casts its shadow
gently as pastel persimmon
across the rooftops
as blinds twitch 
in hope of snowfall 

robins like paladins
stand proudly atop fenceposts 
keeping watch over the people they love
singing quiet whispers of strength 

along the emerald and dull silver hedgerow 
the squabbles of nature seem calmer
as if peace has befallen predator and prey
and no man’s land is safe for a while 

believing isn’t seeing
believing is believing

Thanks for joining me for the last day of the advent calendar of poems. I hope you’ve enjoyed my scribbling over the past month and year. All your support is highly appreciated.

Here’s a quote from my favourite Christmas film, Scrooged: “ It’s Christmas Eve! It’s, it’s the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we, we, we smile a little easier, we, w-w-we, we, we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be! It’s a miracle, it’s really, a sort of a miracle because it happens every Christmas Eve.”

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year

Paul

Advent Calendar Poem #23: Pressure Cooking

There’s a tumbling of sprouts
mini green baubles spilling 
over the kitchen floor 
from the punctured paper bag
a reindeer’s snack 
has caused the tear 
as if anticipating 
the sound of sleigh bells 
but the only sound at the moment 
is sobbing and swearing 
the self-imposed pressure building 
before you can relax 
you have a hundred jobs to do
but Christmas isn’t all on your shoulders
grab a drink and take a seat 
a deep breath to slow down
like snow falling 
everything will be okay.

Hey everyone Merry Christmas Eve Eve. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read the penultimate advent calendar poem for 2022.

Here’s a quote from one of my favourite Xmas movies, The Polar Express “Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.”

Take It Easy

Paul

Advent Calendar Poem #22: Sparkly Presents

The wreath shines
in winter light 
scarlet holly glowing 
slices of scented citrus 
glistening like stained glass 
even long-dried pinecones 
have a revived golden aura 
emerald fir and spruce branches 
hold everything together 
this natural bracelet
a truly precious 
and priceless gift.

Thanks for taking the time to read this poem. I hope you’re doing amazing this week and have some merriment planned over the festive period. Only 2 poems left of the calendar. Thanks for the ongoing support, it’s very appreciated.

Take It Easy

Paul

Advent Calendar Poem #21: Midwinter

The winter solstice 
deepens the darkness 
tilted away from the sun 
we cling to the watercolour sky
and whatever sunlight we can 
for our diurnal delectation 
the night              
  -   can wait.

Hey, happy solstice day and thanks for stopping by to read poem number 21. I hope you are having a great week and have had plenty smiles this week.

Take It Easy

Paul

Advent Calendar Poem #20: A Take on Christmas Films

I slip into the comfort 
of old Christmas movies 
like John & Hans   tearing up Nakatomi
Buddy finding his family    and a new job
George finding help from Clarence
Frank Cross reuniting with Claire
and a boy in blue dancing with snowmen 
the nostalgia is like hot chocolate 
and warm hugs 
it’s hard sometimes to step away.

Thanks for stopping by today to read number 20 in the advent calendar. I hope your week is going well and that your all sorted for the festivities.

Take It Easy

Paul

Advent Calendar Poem #18: A Smile On Your Face

Snowmen standing in front gardens
waving at passers-by
who cling on to fenceposts 
tentative steps on glass concrete
some have dogs that pull on the lead
and drag like huskies 
along the glittery cycle path.

If you see something that you find amusing don’t be afraid to smile. I hope your weekend has been well spent, less than a week to Christmas!

Take it easy

Paul

Advent Calendar Poem #14: Precious Decorations

We found treasure
on the forest floor
scattered pinecones 
shining silvery-white 
in the     winter frost-glow 
and the cool 
            pearl sun.

Thanks for taking the time today’s poem. I can’t believe there’s only ten left. December is going by far too quickly.

Remember to come back tomorrow for the next calendar door to be opened.

Take It Easy,

Paul