Nature 2008

Book Review of:

Nature: an anthology of poems by Grass Roots Open Writers 2008

24pp (A5 booklet)

This is the first anthology from a very recently formed group, and should be the inspiration for all Fed-type writing groups!

It has a beautifully designed front cover, and the simple formula of a poem per page with its own decorative border makes it an attractive book to handle and peruse.

The book opens with a clear explanation of what GROW is all about:

"Grass Roots Open Writers is a community writing and publishing group, that particularly welcomes people who need to develop confidence in expressing themselves."

And Ashley Jordan's poem, 'Grass Roots', explains in a lovely way the reason for their name:

'Grass Roots,
Reaching down
Into nourishment
Finding their place
Securing their space
Upon the earth'

The theme of the anthology, 'Nature' is, of course, a very wide one, and there is a good range of responses, and the last poem is a two-writer collaboration! One of my personal favourites, though, was by Stephen Taylor, a wonderfully lyrical and assured poem, I thought:

'As I pass into autumn,
With its shades,
Like the moonlight
The coldness of the heart, like the winter
I long for another summer,
Like a lover waits for an embrace
To feel the warmth
Of its refreshing breath
I wait in hope, saying
I don't want to be alone tonight'

The prevailing mood of this collection is celebratory and optimistic, Spring-like in its hope.  GROW sounds like a very supportive and friendly group, and I wish it long-lasting success so I can look forward to reading many more anthologies!

By Lynne Clayton - Nov. '08