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A Book of Poems - June 2025
(Illustrations by Vivian Meadowes And Rowan & Fern Bodicoat Elyard)
As the author of nine books of poems and purchaser of one-too-many pamphlets and mini-books of poetry that don't quite cut it - it's a pleasure and something else to stumble on a writer that reminds me of Wendy Cope and Sophie Hannah - nice author company to be keeping any day of your rhetorical week.
"Echoes Of You" by ANNA BODICOAT ELYARD is only 20-pages long - a poetry zine if you like. But each piece is accompanied by related pencil drawings and what I love about it is the warmth of the works. Too many writers try to impress - come off all deep and aloof - Anna's mini-book is about becoming a parent and staying the course. You can feel the personal growth - the awe - the pride - the physical weariness that accompanies such a lifetime commitment.
Everything changes when you have kids (we've got three - 34, 30 and 27) and pieces like "Skylark" and "You Start School Tomorrow" with their screaming songs and food-allergy-likes shopping lists nail that feeling. I won't spoil it for you by indepthing all of the work - suffice to say - this is a great start and a name you want to remember. I purchased two copies at an open-mic night at the '101 Social Club' in Northdown Road in Cliftonville, Margate on Wednesday 6 Aug 2025.
Nice work Anna and keep on keeping on...
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