SPLINTERS: A Book of Very Short Poems

by Michael--Ed. Harrison ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 30, 1989

An appealing, hand-sized collection from a wide variety of sources--the British and American canon of greats, translations, children's poets, plus a few by good old Traditional and Anon. Fulfilling the intention expressed on the jacket flap, they're short, sharp, and thought-provoking--""quick little splinters of life"" (D.H. Lawrence). There is no formal organization, but poems exploring a concept (season, war, plays on names) are grouped so that one idea leads naturally into another. Thoughts and images are well-chosen for child-appeal, as in the succinct, powerful lines on Harlech Castle: ""Here, decayed, an old/Giant's molar. It ground men's/Bones; their blood its bread."" Heap's deft, unassuming drawings--on almost every page--add touches of humor, imaginatively incorporating letters and symbols. Very nice, especially for browsing. Index of titles/first lines; unfortunately, no author index.

Pub Date: March 30, 1989

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 121

Publisher: Oxford Univ. Press

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1989

Categories: POETRY