Colin Dardis is a poet, editor and arts coordinator from Northern Ireland.
Blurb: Reality and escapism, protection and peeling away, prayer and sacrilege, resistance and surrender. Navigating an often complex and uneven playing field, Colin Dardis strives to find balance from a life constantly fluctuating between profit and loss. The poems on offer here explore questions of existence and identity, asking who we really are, and how we can possibly be.
My review:
My favourite poem from the collection was Lepidopterology – a name which I had to do my research on! The definition is ‘a branch of entomology concerning the scientific study of moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies.’ This is a poem which explores how fleeting and beautiful life can be – Colin suggests that people cannot be pinned down or treated as disposable/collective. The collection feels like a step back from life in order to reflect – Dardis reminisces on childhood and the nature around him: ‘we stand and watch, our trust placed in the fire, a heaven sent gift, a fervent prayer’ On a silly note, Colin seems to hate the neighbour’s cat. As a dog lover, these moments pleased me greatly (controversial).
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