A third collection of poems full of precise imagery discussing various themes by a popular poet and novelist.

Trydydd casgliad o gerddi llawn delweddau manwl ar themâu amrywiol gan fardd a nofelydd poblogaidd.

This is Christopher Meredith’s third collection and one which has been eagerly awaited.

Despite the title, only one poem in the book is devoted to flight. It records, with a precise choice of words, a dying swallow’s sharp, still beauty:

I held the art of dying
in my hand today.
Her hurt wings folded on my loose fist.

The remaining poems are devoted to a wide range of human experience and reveal Meredith’s poetic versatility.

One of my favourites is about his mother, who once worked as a domestic servant in the household of a landed gentry family.

Sepia expects a tear
but none comes. She holds
the yellowed postcard of the House
at arm’s length . . .

My overwhelming impression of Meredith’s poetry is his ability to write on a great range of subjects with enormous skill. ‘Application to the Arts Council for a grant to write this poem’ is a good example, for it is in a complete contrast to the previous poems mentioned.

In the opening two or three lines
a startling image will be broached.
There is beauty here as well as self-deprecating wit.

Christopher Meredith is one of the very finest writers to be published by Seren.

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 ganiatad Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.