John Cooper Clarke's latest collection, *Have It* (Picador, £16.99), showcases the poet's signature style, blending social satire with northern humor. He tackles diverse themes, from urban malaise and environmental degradation to topics like money, death, and popular culture. Clarke's punk rock ethos shines through, with lines such as, “Me and my shrinking crowd / Each under our own personal cloud.” He uses humor and doggerel to express his love for poetry, proclaiming, “It’s a meaningless job but someone’s got to do it / Thank God it’s me.” The collection captures his performance prowess as he champions the working class.
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Mary Mullholland's *The Dodo Stories* (Nine Arches, £11.99) is a compelling debut that navigates themes of inheritance, migration, and colonialism. She vividly portrays her family history and the silenced narratives of Portuguese indenture to the Caribbean. Her imagery brings to life the landscapes and wildlife, as seen in lines like, “the three-night flower smells of pineapple and banana.” At the core of the book is a poignant tribute to her “exotic morpho mother,” reflecting on intergenerational trauma and a desire for healing.
Ian McMillan's *Red River Valley* (Carcanet, £12.99) draws inspiration from his village life near Barnsley. His accessible poems fuse the surreal with everyday experiences, like remembering his father's favorite song. The collection provides wry commentary on societal inequities and austerity, while also finding beauty in life's quotidian moments, suggesting that, “It’s moments like this when all the stars align.”
Roger Robinson's *Some Sacred Harbour: New and Selected Poems* (Bloomsbury, £12.99) stands as a testament to his extensive work. The title poem highlights the importance of creativity in narrating life's pivotal moments. Robinson's themes encompass Black Atlantic and Black British identity, grief, and social injustices, emphasizing a shared communal experience. His sonically rich verses convey the breadth of human experience, indicating that “the shoots of spring always bring hope.”
Finally, Carolyn Forché’s *Otherwhere: New and Selected Poems 1976–2026* (Bloodaxe, £14.99), is a significant retrospective featuring five decades of her work. Opening with an insightful preface, Forché’s ability to intertwine personal narrative with geopolitical issues distinguishes her as a “poet of witness.” Her poems capture the realities of war and displacement, with a new sequence addressing contemporary crises such as the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, exploring the limits of language in the face of devastation.