Jackie Kay (Review of Darling)Posted in Articles, Book/Video Reviews, Media Archive, United Kingdom, Women on 2010-05-06 21:32Z by Steven |
Jackie Kay (Review of Darling)
Aesthetica Magazine
Issue 19 (2007-10-01)
page 10
Rachel Hazelwood
Jackie Kay is one of the most prolific and insightful poets currently writing in the UK today. At a time when too many people frequently describe the form as being “in decline” and thought of as an “exclusive club”, Kay writes poems that are accessible, yet deeply involved and involving. Her poetry embraces the reader, and at the same time it challenges them to really think about what she is saying. Her work covers weighty themes such as gender, ethnicity, racism and cultural difference, and presents them in ways that leave you marvelling at her command of language, and at the same time feeling as though you have gained valuable insight into subjects fraught with social and emotional complexities. As far as Kay is concerned: “All you need is a way of reading poetry so while you’re listening, you are also reading; and that you listen to poetry like you might listen to a piece of music. You actually don’t need to understand it in the first instance; you’re listening to enjoy and experience language, not to worry about it. Once you’re past worrying you can actually return again and again to the same poem, and that’s what I think is wonderful about poetry.”
Kay’s latest work, Darling, published in October 2007, brings together into a vibrant new book many favourite poems from her four Bloodaxe collections, The
Adoption Papers, Other Lovers, Off Colour and Life Mask, as well as featuring new work, some previously uncollected poems, and some lively poetry for younger readers…
Read the entire review here.