The Lyrical Eye

A Poem to celebrate the poetry I love and (try to) write

First things first: if you missed the big news, my collection with Kingdom Anywhere is finally coming out this month (March 12th, to be precise) and you are all cordially invited to make your way to Paris for the launch event, should you so wish!

Find more details about - and sign up for - the launch event by clicking here.

For those of you who cannot make it, fear not, I will be more than happy to get your hands on a copy of the beautifully-finished limited edition first print run with its wonderful artwork from Agnes Treherne. Paid subscribers will all be receiving a copy, delivered in whatever way they prefer, so please do consider supporting my work in this way. For the time being, in the interests of keeping postage costs low, I will only be sending out copies in France for the next month or so, and posting copies to UK addresses later in Spring (April/May), with the possibility of hand-delivery in Leeds and London at various points (more details later - there will hopefully also be an upcoming UK launch event). In the meantime, I apologise for the delay.

If you’d like to pre-order a copy to pick up at the Paris launch event, you can use this link to pre-order.

If you’d like to pre-order a copy to be posted to you in France, you can use this link to pre-order.

For those of you based in other countries around the world, I will of course be able to send you copies, too, with corresponding postage/shipping rates. In coming months, the book will be available both online and in a range of (independent) bookshops, updates to follow, as and when (feel free to ask your local bookshop to order a copy, though this will not be the same limited edition that you can order directly from me here or at launch events).

Image credit: Augusta Sangelli

So, in this period where there seems to be little room for joy, optimism and celebration, I wish to celebrate something that has (quite genuinely) helped me through hard times, made me feel understood, allowed me to empathise with other people and other beings whose perspectives I do not know, and to stay motivated - lyrical poetry.

The Lyrical Eye

I am in love with the lyrical eye.
Extended images stream through me like fresh water
Not yet rinsed through microplastics.
I read Glück, I feel love, I see with her eye, with a plant’s soul
I awake and realise
My irresolvable duality
The tenderness of my northern soul cracking, hard February mud
Defrosting in snowdrop shoots
I know my birth is forthcoming
From this dormant ancient stone
Anticipating woollen swaddling and late snows.
I walk in the rain, I am the rain, I, too, fall

I, too, am warm and lusty cravings
To be poured forth over hot rocks and neeedled pine
And tenacious dry herbs crisping
Long, shallow roots
Smearing my unsweated flesh
With a lightness acidic
Under these desiccating skies
My goblet heart full and greedy with wine
Tongue loosening into arm into gesture into flow
My insouciance unmoored
From my gentleness.

These are the things of my flesh
Known like dawn splitting
Into another cycle.

Let me turn the page back, read again, see afresh…
I remain the same, absorbing
Catharsis and beauty, and all those other
Necessities