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jenvcampbell's review against another edition
5.0
I can safely say that this is the most fascinating, beautiful, capitvating poetry collection I have read in years. I cannot do it justice in a review. I started reading this in the middle of September, and the only reason I just finished it is because I read two poems and then lost it in a pile of books in my bedroom and only rediscovered it yesterday *rolleyes* Anyway, I have since devoured it. The author's note says: 'This is a selection of poems written for other writers, artists, strangers, lovers and friends. Thank you to all the sitters for allowing me to write their portraits.'
It's so difficult to pick favourites. I love Olivia: 'With all these fineries and mermaid's hair / and a jaw as tense as a fox, you cannot undress / you are always dressed. Your voice does not know / if it is British or indeed if your throat comes from the purse / of an orchid - there's a lamb's bleat in your gut / and two bride's nervous bellies in your midriff.' Then: 'I would say you're from Prague or the northern hemisphere / way up where whales drive men mad with their singing.'
Stephen's portrait: 'today i stopped using / punctuation / because i feel mad'
Suzy's: 'Girls like you and I / made rain happen, without meaning, made / rain storms and lightning get in the way.'
I was sort of reminded of Cassandra Parkin's fiction in the tone - I also love her. I don't know what it was, perhaps because these poems are like interviews - pain-staking studies; talking about someone and examining them when they're standing in front of you. This collection was so so beautiful that it made my chest physically hurt. I might have to reread it... straight away.
It's so difficult to pick favourites. I love Olivia: 'With all these fineries and mermaid's hair / and a jaw as tense as a fox, you cannot undress / you are always dressed. Your voice does not know / if it is British or indeed if your throat comes from the purse / of an orchid - there's a lamb's bleat in your gut / and two bride's nervous bellies in your midriff.' Then: 'I would say you're from Prague or the northern hemisphere / way up where whales drive men mad with their singing.'
Stephen's portrait: 'today i stopped using / punctuation / because i feel mad'
Suzy's: 'Girls like you and I / made rain happen, without meaning, made / rain storms and lightning get in the way.'
I was sort of reminded of Cassandra Parkin's fiction in the tone - I also love her. I don't know what it was, perhaps because these poems are like interviews - pain-staking studies; talking about someone and examining them when they're standing in front of you. This collection was so so beautiful that it made my chest physically hurt. I might have to reread it... straight away.
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