Leilanie Stewart

What I look for in a poetry pamphlet or book is the quality of writing, first and foremost, followed by the presentation of the poems. I don’t care for shiny covers, or ISBNs, or fancy publishing and copyright information – after all, half the publishers you hear of are actually vanity press. That is not to deride vanity press, of course; after all, some people have the ££££ to spend, and the garage to stock their books while they sell them at events.

As a fellow artist, I can appreciate the charm in Simon Robson’s photocopied pamphlet, Backyard Cabbages. It contains 17 pages of poetry along with black and white photographs of a garden shot in high exposure. Many of the poems focus on ordinary people; neighbours, locals, any sort you would meet in your neighbourhood or down the pub. The poems and photos give the reader a sense of loneliness and isolation as the poet observes everyday occurrences and unsuspecting people, writing about the events in candid speech that is quirky and at times humorous. Continue reading →