HOW GHOSTS BEGIN - by Clare MacDonald Shaw
I'd never heard of this poet before, but I picked up this pamphlet recently
and thought it was rather good. Its her first publication, from Shoestring Press
in Nottingham (who also publish Gael Turnbull). Witty, crafted, often dense
language. She uses long lines which are reminiscent of Denise Riley,
as is the tone at times. Here's an excerpt with shorter lines:
Hard to notate - a recital
for sharp zinc pipe, glass whistle,
leaf rim between thumbs.
Icy slides, glissades...
the bird skewers blocked ears,
guns down a cat, staccato:
acciaccatura! Steel bullets
melt quickly to brook-water
running over stones.
from Bird Catcher.
...and longer ones:
scrubbed armchairs shrink, twang, bust a coiled gut, and go
on the last free plague-cart after all. Water's been making love to her cellar.
Back at the ranch-house I unlock the trunk, a step-in death-trap,
one of those touring vampire coffins propped in the old hotel.
I planned to float off on it when the dam broke. Boring portables
all safe and dry, but the town's lost its past - yearbooks, letters from the dead.
from American Gothic.
If you like the sound of it, it's available from Shoestring Press, 19 Devonshire Avenue,
Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1BS. 2.99 plus 65p p + p
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|