The Best Poetry Book I Have Ever Read

I have a friend called Sarah Salway. She is a mighty fine writer. Dont just take my word for it, this is what Neil Gaiman says about her:

"Sarah Salway is the Madonna of writing books. The dancing one, not the Mother of Jesus one."

And I believe it is the law that no one is allowed to disagree with Neil Gaiman.

A couple of weeks ago she sent me a sneak preview of her forthcoming poetry collection, You Do Not Need Another Self-Help Book, and I devoured it in one sitting. A few pages in and I felt like I should never write another poem again. There was just no point. These were so good that I could never top them. This made me sad.

And then I read this one.

The Path Home

Sometimes when the children are in bed
when once we would have collapsed too,
poured wine, slouched on sofas,
talked ourselves back into life,
I stand at your door, seeing
you work your way into a different world
in the same way I watch our children sleep,
wondering where they go,
whether I am with them to hold their hand,
worried they might get lost and not return,
but then you’ll turn
ask me what I’m doing
standing there when there’s so much to do
and I’ll want to slip a pebble in your pocket
and point to the white stone path
leading you back home.

And it made me cry. Proper tears. How many nights have I spent sitting at my laptop when more important things were going on elsewhere in the house? When the people I love most in this world are just a few feet away. What a selfish bastard.

But as I made it through poem after wonderful poem I found myself inspired. This book wanted me to write more. And better.

It is the best poetry book I have ever read.

It isn't published till next March, by Pindrop Press, but if you wanted to pre-order a copy at their website then yours will be signed by the author.

Do it.

(Oh, and the poem above first appeared in Mslexia magazine, just so you know.)

Comments

[Richard Sheehan]

Thanks for highlighting this book. I got a copy of 'Leading the dance' and that was excellent. I like the poem above, subtle yet very powerful. I'll nip along to the site later and put my order in.

[Sarah]

Thank you, Scott. Never been happier to make someone cry, and this is so nice it makes me cry a little bit myself x

[Cynthia Barlow Marrs]

Great post, Scott. And right you are about Sarah. It's on my list.

[Lindsay Stanberry-Flynn]

Lovely poem and great post. Preoccupied with Christmas preparations, I had to stop and ponder - thank you.

[thisgreyspirit]

I wish I could take this poem back in time with me about 6 years. It's lovely and really rather heartbreaking.