Description
Book SynopsisIn The Blue Armchair, his third collection, John Froy seeks to rediscover his mother after her death in poems widely and wildly various. But which mother? The inspiring painter he hardly saw, a reckless mother he saw too much of? Or an ill, unhappy woman? These complications provide the background, but others too often take centre stage. We meet father, siblings, step-parents, a grandmother and a tragic grandfather, lovers and friends. In poems written over twenty years that don't flinch from pain, loss, and mental health issues, we also find much family love, art, colour, scented flowers, food and wine. We travel across the world, encounter the earth mother, Gaia, get up to hear the dawn chorus. An artist stepfather shines through, as we end with the joys in being a grandfather.
Trade Review‘A complicated mother provides the impetus for these beautifully crafted poems. The poet moves from a fractured childhood to maturity with honesty and intelligence. A first-rate volume of poetry. Do read it!’ — Myra Cottingham; ‘This mosaic of poems, a loving attempt to gather the shards of life of a tantalising woman. The writer uses a very delicate touch in evoking amusing, disturbing and richly rewarding moments in the life of a diasporic family’ — Elke Asmus
