Afterburn by Blake Morrison (Chatto & Windus, £12.99) is a masterclass in lyric distillation and charged observation that proves poetry can tackle anything, from social justice to personal loss. Morrison's subjects range from the injustices of the world to his own experiences with love, grief, and identity. What sets this collection apart is its precision and power - each poem is like a brush stroke on canvas, carefully considered and deliberately messy.
In contrast, Into the Hush by Arthur Sze (Penguin, £12.99) presents a bold vision of a world in disarray, yet still full of iridescence and beauty. The title might suggest sonic organisation, but these poems are more like painterly brushstrokes, capturing a fleeting moment in time. Sze's poetry is both delicate and overwhelming, as if the silences between words are just as important as the words themselves.
Unsafe by Karen McCarthy Woolf (Bloomsbury, £12.99) explores themes of erasure, shame, and survival with unflinching candour. The poems are accompanied by photographs that amplify the collection's sense of urgency, from surveillance cameras to blasted doll heads. This is a poet who is not afraid to confront the complexities of life head-on.
Only Sing by John Berryman, edited by Shane McCrae (Faber, £12.99), offers a new take on Berryman's Dream Songs, showcasing his signature vernacular and technical skill. The result is a treasure trove of poetry that is both accessible and challenging.
Lamping Wild Rabbits by Simon Maddrell (Out-Spoken, £11.99) deals with themes of loss and candour in its debut collection. Maddrell's language is rich and evocative, capturing the complexity of human experience in all its messy glory.
Lastly, Dream Latitudes by Alia Kobuszko (Faber, £12.99) defies convention from its very first line, blurring the lines between poetry, song, and prose. The result is a haunting collection that neither entices nor repulses, inviting the reader to immerse themselves in its strange beauty.
Each of these collections offers something unique and valuable, showcasing the diversity and richness of contemporary poetry. They prove that poetry can tackle anything, from the most personal experiences to the grandest themes - as long as we're willing to listen.
In contrast, Into the Hush by Arthur Sze (Penguin, £12.99) presents a bold vision of a world in disarray, yet still full of iridescence and beauty. The title might suggest sonic organisation, but these poems are more like painterly brushstrokes, capturing a fleeting moment in time. Sze's poetry is both delicate and overwhelming, as if the silences between words are just as important as the words themselves.
Unsafe by Karen McCarthy Woolf (Bloomsbury, £12.99) explores themes of erasure, shame, and survival with unflinching candour. The poems are accompanied by photographs that amplify the collection's sense of urgency, from surveillance cameras to blasted doll heads. This is a poet who is not afraid to confront the complexities of life head-on.
Only Sing by John Berryman, edited by Shane McCrae (Faber, £12.99), offers a new take on Berryman's Dream Songs, showcasing his signature vernacular and technical skill. The result is a treasure trove of poetry that is both accessible and challenging.
Lamping Wild Rabbits by Simon Maddrell (Out-Spoken, £11.99) deals with themes of loss and candour in its debut collection. Maddrell's language is rich and evocative, capturing the complexity of human experience in all its messy glory.
Lastly, Dream Latitudes by Alia Kobuszko (Faber, £12.99) defies convention from its very first line, blurring the lines between poetry, song, and prose. The result is a haunting collection that neither entices nor repulses, inviting the reader to immerse themselves in its strange beauty.
Each of these collections offers something unique and valuable, showcasing the diversity and richness of contemporary poetry. They prove that poetry can tackle anything, from the most personal experiences to the grandest themes - as long as we're willing to listen.
. I mean, who wouldn't want to dive into the masterful words of Blake Morrison or the bold vision of Arthur Sze? 
It's amazing how these poets can tackle tough topics like social justice and personal loss with such precision and power 
️. And then there's Karen McCarthy Woolf's Unsafe, which just gives me chills every time I think about it 
. The way she confronts erasure, shame, and survival head-on is just so inspiring 
. What I love most about these collections is that they're not afraid to get messy and explore the complexities of human experience 
. Can't wait to dive into each of them and see what other beauty (or chaos) they have in store for me 
I gotta say, I'm a bit skeptical about all these poetry collections being touted as masterclasses or game-changers. Don't get me wrong, they're all well-written and thought-provoking, but they're also kinda... safe? 
I mean, how many of us are really tackling the big issues like erasure and shame in our everyday lives? 
It's easy to write about it when you've got a publisher breathing down your neck, you know? 
I'm not saying those collections aren't valuable or important, but let's not forget that poetry is supposed to be about emotion and experience, not just clever wordplay. 
i mean, Blake Morrison's poetry sounds sooo good, but Arthur Sze's poems seem kinda weird? like, what's with the title "Into the Hush" though? does that even sound nice or is it just confusing? 
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. These new collections are proof that it's still a vital art form, and I'm here for it 
. I mean, Blake Morrison's Afterburn is giving me life with its precision and power 
. I love how each collection is tackling different themes and styles 
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, it's so rich and evocative. And Alia Kobuszko's Dream Latitudes is like nothing I've ever seen before 
. It's like she's blending poetry with song and prose in the most beautiful way 
.
. Each of these collections is a reminder that poetry can be anything we want it to be 
. I mean, Blake Morrison's Afterburn is giving me LIFE with its precision and power 
. And John Berryman's Only Sing is a total game-changer - Shane McCrae did an amazing job with the editing 
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. It's like these poets are speaking straight to us, you know? And Alia Kobuszko's Dream Latitudes... man, I need to read that one ASAP