Sleepers Awake

Oli Hazzard's Sleepers Awake explores the intersections of memory, care, and technology through innovative and heartfelt poetry, inviting readers into a reflective journey.

In Sleepers Awake, the third collection from acclaimed poet and novelist Oli Hazzard, readers are invited into a world where the chaos of everyday life intertwines with profound reflections on memory and existence. Hazzard skillfully navigates the complexities of care, work, and the interplay between nature and technology, crafting poems that resonate deeply with the reader. These works extract 'the ore / from boredom', revealing the richness that can emerge from the mundane, as personal and collective memories are examined and reshaped through innovative poetic forms.

The collection is infused with a sense of nostalgia and the bittersweet nature of forgetting, capturing moments of sadness while also highlighting the unexpected potential that arises from these experiences. The title of the book, inspired by a Lutheran hymn that influenced a Bach cantata, encapsulates the dreamlike quality of the poems, which engage in kaleidoscopic dialogues that traverse time and space. Hazzard's use of rhythm, scale, and disruption creates a dynamic reading experience that challenges conventional poetic boundaries.

Through a blend of satire, allusion, and tenderness, Sleepers Awake establishes a unique intimacy with its audience. The poems invite readers to reflect on the complexities of relationships and the joys found in shared experiences, advocating for a 'jovial texture of batshit relations' and the pleasure of connection in a world filled with skepticism. This collection is a testament to the power of poetry to illuminate the intricacies of life and the human condition.