Have wanted to post a brief appreciation of Andrea Brady's work for a
while, Easter seems an appropriate time ("Other sheep have I, not of
this fold"). The "sere" may be withered, dry or may be 'the series of
stages in an ecological succession' or both: the work, however, is very
serious & rewards close attention.
These are just preliminary notes to stimulate others into reading or
sharing their takes. I pick up motifs of sacrifice, if you will, a
lamentation for what our appetites/greeds are doing to ourselves & the
creatures of other kin who share our planet. The use of language is
rich - alliteration, puns ("in haling vapours"), the short 'u' vowel
operating as a pulse or ostinato against which the other vowels & harsh
consonants sound ("Musky bundles cuddle jellied petal cups"), an
intelligent diction drawn from biochemistry ("pheromone"), history
("tumbrel") etc. In short, firing on all cylinders!
Maybe I'll post more after absorbing more, meanwhile I return often to
"Of Sere Fold" and find the six poems at Jacket and the 2 Keston
recently posted fine too. I gather there's new book/let imminent & a
Poetical Histories work I've not seen. If you've not read her yet: a
serious and generously talented poet.
The booklet is by Barque & can be got from Keston Sutherland or,
probably, Peter Riley. I am not on commission and know none of these
folks!
Good holy days all round,
Pete.
(PS Do miss AB's passionate contributions to this list.)
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