Description
Book Synopsis'Bracing' is a full collection of poems, mostly about contemporary life, experienced richly, intensely, unsentimentally and with humour. The writing is humane and accessible, wearing its intelligence lightly. There is something for everyone in 'Bracing', even for those who were put off poetry at school. This is a mature, well-rounded piece of work. The subject matter ranges across modern life and beyond - childhood, parenthood, love, lust, loss, shopping, animals (and our connection to them), climate change, the complexities of the human heart and of relationships, spirituality, food, suffragettes, the status of women, homesickness, grief, illness, ageing, dementia, fear, the joy in small things. All the poems are underpinned by a keen eye, a sharp wit and a total absence of self-pity. Simone is a safe pair of hands, writing in an unshowy style, a poet who manages to be heartfelt, humorous and accomplished.
Table of ContentsBreeze 9 Digging 11 Gargoyle 12 For my daughter’s mother-in-law’s sister 13 As kings, in Egypt 15 After the rains return 16 A lady novelist writes to a publisher, 1972 17 Blew in 18 Vision 20 When we were first together 21 Osculation 22 Summer shower 23 The pull of the lizards 24 Boy, playing 25 He's a nice lad 26 Milady fair 28 St. David’s 29 Not getting my autograph book signed by John Noakes 30 Speed awareness 31 On hold 33 Hole punch 34 Lemon cheesecake with ginger 35 Cancelling God 36 Named for the tree 37 Blast To my Suffragette 39 The classroom 42 The migration of Bewick's swan 44 In the nursery 45 Just a little prick 47 Evergreen 50 Love, house, vinyl, desire 51 Polar bear and Oyster 52 Again 54 Last Samaritan in Paris 56 Confession 58 Were you there, bear? 61 It’s an ill wind… 52.0136 North, 4.3881 West – 21st February 2022 64 Balance 66 A coffee and a chat - Barmouth 67 Springers in the air 68 Like a duck to water 69 A photo for Grandpa 70 Inevitability 71 Celebration 72 Nessun Dorma 73 The visitor 74 January 6th 75 Springing 76 I am becoming all those words 77 Diagnosis 78 Retreat 79 Revelation 81 Checking up on Dad 83 What do we do now? 84 For him there was no longing 85 At the bar 87 Acknowledgements 88 About ‘Bracing’ and about Simone 89
