A collection of distinctive poems in which the poet shares his imaginative and feeling responses to a variety of worlds - work as a doctor, the experience of life in Wales and north London, the mysterious nature of creativity, the Jewish and bardic traditions. This collection draws on all these strands and shows personal experience together with his general reflections.

Casgliad o gerddi arbennig; yn rhain mae'r bardd yn rhannu ei ymatebion creadigol a theimladwy i nifer o agweddau - ei waith fel meddyg, profiad byw yng Nghymru a Llundain, natur ddirgel bod yn greadigol a thraddodiadau Iddewig a barddol. Mae'r casgliad yn dangos yr elfennau hyn ac yn cynnwys profiadau'r bardd yn ogystal a'i fyfyrdodau cyffredinol.

A Dannie Abse collection always promises much in both expected and unexpected ways. He is urbane, lyrical and mystical by turns and imagery is employed to maximum effect. His many readers will not be disappointed by his latest book. In it he draws on strands of his life experience, a life divided between literature and medicine, between South Wales and London.

The thirty-nine poems included vary greatly in terms of subject matter. His poems to a friend who has survived into her eightieth year is a moving testimony to the creative spirit. ‘But let us write on, dear, Mari,/ as we brace ourselves/ for the jolt/ of the full stop/ at the line's end.’

Abse’s work may be profound but, very importantly, it is also accessible. This collection confirms his position among contemporary British poets and I eagerly await more from him.

Dewi Roberts

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgement should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

Gellir defnyddio’r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatâd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.