I am Ashley Elsdon

someone who's doing some things

Category: Poetry

I do love poetry, although these days sadly I don’t read enough of it, and I certainly don’t write very much anymore either.

Brian Patten, Selected Poems

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I bought this collection late last year after reading ‘Vanishing Trick’ again after decades. I enjoyed it so much I had to have more of his work, and I wonder why I haven’t read this sooner. His work is incredible, insightful, poignant and beautiful. Some of these poems just bring me up short, like they were written entirely to speak to me in the very moment that I find myself reading them. They are incredible.

In some ways I just want to read it all over again, but I should probably wait. Instead I might just buy more of his books and satisfy myself with those.

If you don’t know his work, change that.

A portable paradise

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This collection of poetry from Roger Robinson won the TS Elliot prize in 2019. I got it from the Poetry Book Society, which I would recommend. I had never read his work before this collection, but I am now very glad that I have.

The collection was at once challenging and moving, and also, at times, somewhat impenetrable, although that probably says more about me than about this collection of poetry. But it is powerful, really powerful.

I recommended this to a friend recently, and, after finding just an excerpt of it, she was sold and wanted to read more. I think that it can have that kind of an impact.

Deluge by Charlotte Ansell

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Deluge by Charlotte Ansell
Deluge by Charlotte Ansell

This year I’ve been really enjoying reading poetry again this year. Both revisiting poetry that I’ve always enjoyed, and also finding new poets and collections. One such is Deluge by Charlotte Ansell. It’s a great collection.

I’ve never read her work before, but I may well go back and read some of her other work based on this. From the first poem onward it has been brilliant. Insightful and penetrating, funny at times, gentle and revealing.

I think that this is a collection of poems that I’ll read again, and again.

It’s National Poetry Day!

Posted by on in Events, Poetry

I had no idea at all! But it is for real. Today is National Poetry day, so I think I’ll celebrate by reading some of my favourite poems and poets a bit later on.

Also, the Poetry Library has launched a new eloans scheme so you can get audiobooks and ebooks of poetry from them wherever you are. I think I’m going to take advantage of that very soon too.

Edinburgh Fringe: Anthem for a Doomed Youth

Posted by on in Edinburgh Fringe, Events, Festivals, Poetry, Theatre

I’m a big fan of Guy Masterson’s work. His “Under Milk Wood” was incredible, so when I’m in Edinburgh I always make an effort to see whatever it is that he’s in. This year the only thing that he was doing that coincided with my time at the fringe was “Anthem for a Doomed Youth”. His readings of World War 1 poetry. It was very good. Very powerful, and as always with Guy Masterson, full of emotion and meaning and at times, even humor.

At some point I’d love to see his “Under Milk Wood” again. I really hope he performs it somewhere I can get to at some point.

The Scott Monument

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I climbed the Scott Monument on my last day in Edinburgh. The last time I was in the city it wasn’t open to the public. Although that was a long time ago now.

I’m glad I did it. It was certainly an experience, but not for everyone I shouldn’t think, and certainly not in very heavy wind and rain.