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| Candlestick Press May 2026 My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this pamphlet |
These poems by ecopoet and environmentalist Mario Petrucci offer a series of remarkable encounters with the natural world. They question and warn, while finding wonder and beauty amid the sobering realities of climate change. The flowers may seem “prodigal” but it’s their vulnerability that sharpens the poet’s attention.
We look through both ends of the telescope to view the intricate lives of plants and insects as vividly as the abstract grandeur of the cosmos. Sometimes the two come together; here, rare seeds are akin to stars:
“Each tiny face has its look:
the black-shiny. The varnishy-brown.
The specks too – it’s like telling stars
apart, rolling them thumb to palm.”
from ‘Seedwoman’
The vigour of Petrucci’s language shows us the world as a place that is intensely, though precariously, alive. He is a scientist as well as a poet, and these heady encounters are energised by that juxtaposition.
“Mario’s poems pull no punches – they will intrigue, delight, terrify and provoke at every level of emotion, learning and action.” The Poetry Society (World Environment Day).
📖 My Review..
It’s always a treat to discover something new which delights and intrigues, defining and realigning with a sense of purpose, and highlighting the world of nature, as in this collection of eco poems by poet and environmentalist Mario Petrucci. It’s difficult to compartmentalise as each poem is uniquely different each sharing a snap shot of time which serves to emphasise the vulnerability of the natural world:
How quietly she works
One midnight at a sudden
clench of breeze
The soft seed-moon
Splits and her comets fly -
From Lion’s Tooth
or common dandelion
Beautifully descriptive of an ecosystem which is vulnerable to climate change, its subtle nuances float effortlessly in ten sensitive poems which place under the macro spotlight the intricate lives of plants and animals. With its poppy laden front cover Prodigal Flowers is a perfect gift instead of a card for any environmentalist or as a stark reminder that we should all protect our planet.
About the Publisher
Candlestick Press is a small, independent press publishing sumptuously produced poetry pamphlets that serve as a wonderful alternative to a greetings card, with matching envelopes and bookmarks left blank for your message. Their subjects include Mountains, Clouds, Walking, Birds, Wine and Happiness. Candlestick Press pamphlets are stocked by chain and independent bookshops, galleries and garden centres nationwide and available to order online.
Twitter/X @poetrycandle
Blue Sky @candlestickpress.bsky.social
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