I'll be quite upfront
to start with and say that Nessa O'Mahnoy is a friend of mine. We both worked
for our PhDs 2003-2007 and graduated together form the Bangor University in
2007. I'll also say that straight away afterwards
that that makes no odds. I'm fastidiously
honest in my reviews and only that which has really impressed finds its way on
to this blog.
I've had this book
for quite a while. I wish I'd read it sooner. It is a delight.
As the title
suggests, there are autobiographical elements here of the Nessa's relationship with
her own father. It also contains the story of her mother's relationship with her
grandfather.
The poems are
strong because they relate to the real world. Nessa uses a powerful mix of writing
with the senses and her own inner thoughts and observations to tell an engaging
story through language carefully chosen.
A particular
favourite of mine is 'Natural Selection' (34):
April blusters
into May,
plays a glassy
tune
on the wind chime
guarding the
crab-apple
from bull-finch
rapine.
At my desk on the
first floor
I miss most of the
garden action,
though the upward climb
of pink and white
on the silver
birch
can still arrest
me
There are a further
three stanzas.
