Dear Boy

While we were discussing The Overhaul, the subject of sequencing poems came up, who might contribute to the ordering process, as well as how we read collections.  I'm keen on the idea of single-author collections as albums, so you might listen to Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on shuffle, but I think it's much better to go from start to finish, not least because of that tricky overlapping at the start of "With a Little Help from My Friends" ... I guess I'm just old-fashioned.

The collection we're reading for next time is Emily Berry's Dear Boy, and as an attempt to intervene in the order you read her poems, here's one from page 22.  It's published in the New Statesman, and so I guess you could say it's been released as a single ...

Here's a link to Berry's website, and here's a link to the Guardian's review by Ben Wilkinson.

Rhyme & Reason have copies in stock, as well as an extended poetry section after their stint as festival bookseller for the Sheffield Poetry Festival, which ended on Sunday.  Their website is full of audio recordings, blog articles and photographs, so do have a look, if you've time.

The next Poetry Cafe at Bank Street is on Wednesday 3rd July, 12pm for a twenty-past start.  Bring copies of your poem, as usual.