Conjuring Marble into Cloud
BREATHE
Helen's lovely poems in 'Breathe' brought a sense of peace from the first poem I read, 'Through the window' - 'The earth breathes its morning mist' - a perfect description of days I've woken up to, especially in autumn. She writes without wasting a word, drawing you back to re-read and take in each nuance.
A collection that goes beyond a love of nature to an exploration of our intimate place in it
I purchased Helen Laycock's previous collection, "Frame," not long ago and was very impressed with it. This new collection has similarities and differences: both are highly lyrical with an emphasis on inventive and very original use of language; in both, nature plays a major thematic role. "Frame," however, focuses on personal conflict, adversity, and resilience; "Breathe" signals a closer union with the natural world, not centered on its interaction with and reflection on ourselves, but on the bond and kinship we all have with it. As Ms. Laycock puts it, in a lovely and resonant phrase, the book is a "reflection on some of the gifts and realities that co-exist with us during our fleeting communion on, and with, this planet." Communion is exactly the right word for this collection: the poems are not only lyrical, but Impressionistic. And like the Impressionists paintings, they transport the viewer not to an understanding of the natural world, but a sensory and emotional participation with it. This is no time for questions and answers. Here we are in a transcendental sphere. This is poetry as experience. One last point about this collection: read it aloud. Read it to someone or to yourself, but the musicality and beauty of the language is best realized when heard, not read. Very highly recommended.
As a haiku poet, I really enjoyed the descriptions in this book by Helen Laycock. I found it inspirational. Just look at this description of a kingfisher in the poem of the same name:
In iridescent ellipses,
made of mermaids' tails
and sequined scales
he is a shimmer
of cupped sunshine.
Beautiful!
A poetic dance through nature
Laycock's use of language is exceptional in this poetry book, the theme throughout is nature and the natural world. Simply beautiful word paintings dance for eyes. I strongly recommend this to poet lovers who love writing about nature & to anybody else that wants to read richly textured lines of beauty.
Taking elements from free verse, meter, innovative formats, stunning imagery, and wordplay, Helen Laycock's "Breathe" stimulates and delights the senses. We journey through the world of animals, the sea, clouds, storms, and finally the planet itself through themed poems, and profound quotes. Powerful verse abounds, with too many favorites to list. To sample a few from this exquisite collection:
From "The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory":
"Awash, I watch you flounder in my irony.
I send my sluice to bellow through your bolt holes:
rude and brown, a speaker out of turn—
insidious whispers, gulps and raucous roars.
It latches, shoves and defecates its swill."
From "Balm":
"A slather of sunbeams
will lick limbs
warm as butter,
a halo of hair
frame a summer face."
From "Pines":
"all crimson heat
has blued,
white skin has crept
with cracks."
And from "Anthropogenic Addiction":
"She coughs out ash
shaped like forests, life, hope—
and it sticks to everything."