📖 Ten Poems about Journeys from Candlestick Press

 

Candlestick Press
2022

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this poetry pamphlet

This mini anthology is a celebration of the rich variety of ways in which we get ourselves from A to B. A long distance walk, a bike ride, a boat trip – all are here in language that captures the thrill of being en route.

We meet cyclists pedalling with panniers around eastern France. Then there’s a rowdy train journey from Barrow to Sheffield; the passengers may be raucous but what is relished is the train’s “relentless pressing on”. Sheenagh Pugh’s poem wonders what might happen if a road had a mind of its own. Then again:

“Who wants to know

a story’s end, or where a road will go?”

from ‘What if this road’ by Sheenagh Pugh

Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or an armchair traveller, these poems offer the delight and excitement of being on the way to somewhere else.

Poems by Jean Atkin, Jo Bell, Geoffrey Chaucer, David Constantine, John Foggin, Norman MacCaig, Michael McCarthy, Kim Moore, Sheenagh Pugh and Rabindranath Tagore.

Cover illustration by Gail Brodholt.

📖 My Review

Journeys can make or break us depending on where we are going and the reason for our travels. The enigmatic cover of Ten Poems about Journeys reminded me of a journey I made last year, it was a sad and rather poignant journey and the photograph I took whilst stopped at a motorway service area is very similar to the view on this cover.

Jaffareadstoo

The opening poem What if this Road by Sheenagh Pugh gets the collection of to a fine start

" What if this road, that has held no surprises

these many years, decide not to go

home after all..."

I loved seeing the start of the journey in Geoffrey Chaucer's Prologue to the Canterbury Tales make an appearance. More easily understood than I remember from my English A 'Level days 😊

" And specially, from every shire's end

Of England, down to Canterbury they wend

To seek the holy blissful martyr, quick

To give his help to them when they were sick.."

Ten poems about Journeys, with its interesting collection of verse, would be the ideal companion to have alongside you maybe on a train journey as you wend your way through the countryside to your journey's end or equally it would make the perfect 'bon voyage' gift, instead of a card.

About the Publisher

Candlestick Press is an independent publisher based in Nottingham, UK. We’ve been publishing poetry pamphlets since 2008 not only for people who already love poetry, but also for those who will love it but perhaps don’t know that yet. Our ‘instead of a card’ pamphlets make an ideal alternative to a mainstream greetings card and are a small gift in their own right. They have matching envelopes and bookmarks left blank for your message, and are excellent companions on journeys or for a bedtime read. By supporting us, you help an independent press and our supported charities at the same time as treating yourselves, your friends and family to some wonderful poems.

Twitter @poetrycandle