ELEMENTAL

I was lucky to meet Helen at 2024’s Black Bough Poetry Party in Neath after reading her poetry on Twitter/X for @TopTweetTuesday. I was drawn to her work as she used space on the page in multiple poems rather than having a singular alignment. Also, the fact Helen is such a lovely force in the poetry community is another reason I enjoy her work.

Elemental was released in 2024 and is a collection of poems based around the elements of air, fire, earth and water. The poems are a tapestry of imagery, sound, motion and emotion.

In Helen’s poetry, space is used to great effect. This is highlighted in the piece ‘Water Gasp’ as it moves through centralised stanzas into separated lines that control the flow and emphasise the emotion and movement. It also allows the reader to fully take in the scene delivered through vivid language. The poem ‘Spooling Light’ resembles a reel, matching the subject matter. It is a terrific poem delivered in so few words.

For fans of intricate imagery, read ‘Winter Flame’. That was my wife’s favourite piece of the collection. Other vivid pieces in the collection include Snowflakes, Communion, Stunned and Hare.

Helen weaves emotion through her poetry. ‘Lovelight’, ‘Whale Fall’ and ‘The Sadness of The Tree Spirit’ are heavy with meaning and made me pause to reflect.

If you want vivid poetry that packs a punch, and where various forms are used, buy this book. I’d buy it just to read my favourite poem (below). It is exquisite and special.

Favorite Poem:
‘An Ocean of Orca Tears’. It is an emotional journey about a mother’s grief at the loss of a child. Full of heart, full of impact.

‘Hare’ is a close second.

One More Thing…
Throughout the book, Helen has added quotes about the elements. These markers help adjust the reader to a different state before moving to the next. I found the quote by Tony Robbins preceding the ‘Fire’ section and the initial piece ‘Lovelight’ heightened the emotional aspect.

Read more about Helen’s other poetry at https://helenlaycock.wixsite.com/marbleintocloud.

From The Book Bag by Paul Short

Helen Laycock has just released her triumphant new collection; Elemental. It’s a wondrous gathering, dividing her work into the four states of Air, Fire, Earth, and Water.
The Pushcart nominee has long form of course, conjuring-up vivid and visceral imagery. This collection does nothing to break this run. It’s not a smooth read however, as image after image stops the reader short in their tracks.
A personal favourite is ‘Hare’. A panicked dash is described; “He unfolds. Elongates, bunches, elongates, bunches; a meadowloom.” Eventually; “…the brown blur in the green chicane, now barely a timberknot.”
Laycock is never afraid to explore the grim or gruesome undersides of the world around her. In ‘Broken Aeroplane’ a thankfully minor incident results in the observation; “part of the wing is missing, not the bones but the skin…” and that mid crisis, “the seats look like rows of dark headstones.”
There are a brace of poems about whales within. Whale Fall shares a final, terminal, descent; “a drifting torpedo of corrugated meat…”; to become; “…rasped to a petrified harp of bones…”
Her other collections; (Wind Blown,13, Rapture, Breathe and Framed) are still available and also highly recommended but this work ratchets up her distinctly recognisable creativity and style another a gear, and should be read without qualification or delay.

Stirring emotion and vivid imagery!

Helen Laycock's poetry book, “Elemental,” profoundly reminded me of how beautiful language can be. Her (generally) short poems reserve space for only the very best word choices to create truly stirring emotion and vivid imagery in her work.

She writes in a voice that is uniquely her own... playing with words to create some very clever non-words that made me smile every time I saw them.... "a silent spiderspin melody," or "chambers of tealpink light" or "shouts clamped in seafists." I love seeing the red squiggles under each non-word as I type this review, warning me of their non-reality... so cool.

And then there are some absolutely delicious lines that would make even the most jaded, palateless, non-poet shiver with joy... “cupping the stutter / of flame / when wind drags,” or “…brindled earth / strewn with / charred ropes / too brittle to hang / excuses.” I don’t want to give any more away – but there are SO many great lines throughout her book.

Laycock is a gifted poet in so many ways, incorporating well-placed literary devices that show her deep wellspring of craftful knowledge and skill. Please read this book. It is a collection of words, and lines, and moments that will stay with you long after you set her book down. Or re-read it three more times (like I did). Highly recommended.

Beautifully written slim volume of poetry

Some writing takes your breath away. And that’s how I felt as I read and reread the stories within. Some of my favorites are “Conflagration” with the stunning ending “… is brindled earth strewn with charred ropes too brittle to hang excuses.” And “ Hare.” And “Communion,” which is about an old growth pine that is felled.

The writing is as evocative as it is beautiful, and the layout on the page is another master stroke. I highly recommend this wonderful piece of art.