A booklet as reward for coming one of 3 runners-up, out of 1,250 entries, in a competition. The poems all deal with the prospect of death. Overall effect is quite invigorating.
Every poem - by title in alphabetical order - is accompanied by a quote from another author - alphabetically - and so generating random juxtapositions many of which are quite synergetic. And sometimes funny.
Excerpt
Every Day Begins Bravely
When daybreak's cold light
lies behind trees and hedges
behind houses
and roadside verges are dewsilvered
a wren flies up to a thin ridge of roof
or topmost cable
and in his hard little voice
shouts his defiance at all predators
calls alive
the colours of the day
Rumpled
floating above the gravity of sleep
I tell myself to get up
try again
"... moved like a young man, tall, extremely handsome / the joy of being immortal in his eyes." C. P. Cavafy
Professional Reviews
Alan Corkish
I never try to hide my unqualified admiration for sam Smith's written work and for me, personally, this is the best of him; irreverent, intelligent, provocative and unpretentious he provokes me to smile, to debate and to appreciate his stubborn honesty... words for Smith are a functional yet beautiful vehicle, sort of Rolls Royce convertibles with ladders and bags of cement strapped across the gold-plated body-work...jump on board and enoy the ride
Dear readers, this is my third book of poems, and inside are a special collection of what have turned out to be not only MY personal favorites, but also the favorites of many of YOU. Some of these have never been available in print before...
