DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

Reservoir Voices

Reflections on solitude and nature through poetry

Brendan Kennelly author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Bloodaxe Books Ltd

Published:10th May '09

Currently unavailable, our supplier has not provided us a restock date

Reservoir Voices cover

This poetry collection explores themes of loneliness and connection through nature, as the author reflects on his experiences by a reservoir in Reservoir Voices.

In Reservoir Voices, the author invites readers into a reflective journey inspired by an autumn spent by a tranquil reservoir in America. Here, amidst the serene landscapes, the poet grapples with feelings of loneliness while observing the natural world around him. The imagery of black swans gliding over blue waves, seagulls soaring above, and the steadfast presence of trees and rocks serves as a backdrop for profound contemplation. This setting becomes a catalyst for the emergence of voices that transcend the poet's solitude, offering a rich tapestry of thoughts and emotions.

Much of Brendan Kennelly's work is characterized by its exploration of otherness, allowing different perspectives to resonate through his verses. In Reservoir Voices, the poet employs various literary devices, such as masks and dramatic monologues, to inhabit the lives of others. The riddles and enigmatic poems within this collection deepen the exploration of identity and existence, revealing the interconnectedness of all beings. Kennelly's ability to channel these voices highlights the beauty and complexity of human experience.

The act of surrendering to loneliness becomes a transformative experience, leading to the admission of new presences and voices that enrich the poet's understanding of the world. Through the act of writing down what he hears, Kennelly captures the essence of these encounters, blending memory, insight, and emotion into a compelling narrative. Reservoir Voices is a testament to the power of nature and introspection in overcoming the challenges of solitude.

'With considerable honesty and bravery Kennelly enters and becomes others in order to perceive, understand and suffer - always moving, probing and doubting, never willing or able to settle on any one certainty - There is clash and conflict, cruelty and irony, sardonic wit, passion' - AIDAN MURPHY, Sunday Press. 'His poems shine with the wisdom of somebody who has thought deeply about the paradoxical strangeness and familiarity and wonder of life' - SISTER STANISLAUS KENNEDY. 'He is the people's poet. He spends his life wondering and thinking and daring to think and see differently. He also asks impossible questions and suggests unthinkable answers about the things that really matter. And he refuses to be precious or out of touch with the rest of us - a serious contribution to the nation's mental and spiritual well-being' -JIM FARRELLY, Editor-in-Chief, Sunday Tribune.

ISBN: 9781852248352

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

96 pages