Poetry Book Club - April!

Plus a poem and gardening and Spring....

Or should that be, lack of gardening.

Spring has arrived in the UK along with the sorts of flowers you can’t help but want to write about - only to remember that someone has already covered off Daffodils (and you can’t get the word ‘trumpet’ out of your head like you’re back in school as an 8yo with writer aspirations), the sort of weather that will have you tying a jumper around your waist - only to resemble a kid stood shivering at the side of swimming lesson two minutes later, and the sort of belief that you can now crack on with ALL the things - before realising that you actually only have half an hour so maybe the things can wait until tomorrow.

Basically it can involve a bit of over-ambition amidst ongoing uncertainty. But you know, the skies are bluer and the air feels gorgeously fresh. It feels like if Spring were a student they would have, “needs a bit more consistency but very enthusiastic and keen to try new things” on their report. And that will do for me.

I have written three or four ‘nature’ poems this past week. I’m definitely hopeful that Spring will mean a bit more poetry writing. Clearly the outdoors is calling and the change in light is working its magic. Which led me to digging out (ha) this prose poem which I wrote last year. If you’d rather, skip down a little and read about our book club choice for April!

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On the Spring equinox

“I must plant something”, I decide, and head into a garden still soaked in Winter’s remains.

I grapple with the brittle body of a sweet pea, it’s arms still raised, it’s skin cut into by gardeners rope. Once, this plant was laden with fruit. Last summer we cut flowers filling more glass bottles than we owned. Now, there are only memories.

My daughter arrives to help me dig. She climbs up and onto the raised bed, using her whole body as a spade, working the earth like it’s a skill only to be lost not gained.

And then, amidst the paper strands, there appears a flash of green. Nothing more than a few shoots. My trowel hangs in mid air. A miracle. A miracle, I begin to explain as she unknowingly hauls it out.

The day hesitates between dark and light. The few strands of growth at the underbelly have gone in a split second. My eyebrows give away my disappointment. It happens, sometimes.

But she’s already off to collect worms in a rusted biscuit tin. Then stones to create a fairy path. Then a watering can for the rosemary bush. The way her body moves reminds me of Spring. The hopeful, darting keenness of it all.

The rosemary bush lies cold and rotting in its own bed. We cannot all survive everything, I say, I say - it’s hard to understand all this being necessary. The still-damp grass is flattened by our demands. She shrugs.

Let’s Dig It Right Out, she sings, as if to her favourite song. Like she has just turned the corner of a long winters walk and has seen an ice cream van in the car park. Yeah, I come to agree, we probably should.

My own body is warming now in her wake. The leaves of the Jasmine plant have blackened, wiry rocket licking at it’s heels. I unpick the evidence of death piece by piece. Notice the Sweet Pea morgue nestles next to a moses basket of Sweet Williams.

Later I sit with a cup of tea on the step and review the hours we’ve spent. There was less planting than I had hoped. More ground-work. My back aches down one side. Sometimes life isn’t as you imagined.

My daughter returns to inspect what is left of the Sweet Pea. She lies on the soil, cheek to cheek. There is something just visible along the soil line.

Firm beneath her fingers.

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BOOK CLUB PICK - APRIL!!!

Oooh I’m excited. I’m always excited about new poetry. Have I mentioned that this book club is 100% getting me reading more poetry, and more poetry start to finish. Anyone else?

Our book club choice for April is……..

Instructions for Travelling West by Joy Sullivan

Instructions for Travelling West by

Joy Sullivan

Full disclosure, I’ve had this collection since it was released and I have already done some dipping in and out. But it’s been sat on my shelf begging me to read it properly start to finish - which I know will be a different experience. And because I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve read so far, I thought it would make a great book club pick. If you’ve encountered any of

Joy Sullivan

‘s writing on here you’ll know it is dripping with emotion and startlingly tender. From what I’ve read so far it feels like a friend telling you their secrets, intimate and friendly but not without deeper commentary on womanhood and humanity. I think it is perfect for us.

Instructions for Travelling West from the book with the same name by Joy Sullivan

Dates for April:

SUNDAY 27th APRIL - the last Sunday of the month will again be our discussion post to chat and share our feelings on the book.

MONDAY 28th APRIL - 8pm (UK) Poetry Circle for paid subs, live on Zoom. For a little more chat, a chance to write together and if you fancy it, an opportunity to read aloud something you’ve written recently. You don’t have to read the book to come along.

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And of course we haven’t had our March book club chat yet. I just wanted to give anyone who is joining in time to order / borrow / locate the April book.

Paid subscribers look out for a separate email with joining details for our Poetry Circle this Thursday 27th March (8pm, UK time). Really looking forward to some dedicated time to write and read together. And I’ll do the March book review post with space for discussion on the final Sunday of the month (March 30th) too, for everyone to join in.

A reminder of what we’re currently reading in March can be found here.

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Hopefully your week ahead includes some sunshine.

Happy poetry reading.,

Nelly x

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