Leilanie Stewart

This month I have had the pleasure of reviewing poet Ken W Simpson’s new collection, Patterns of Perception. Published by Augur Press (January 2015), this collection contains 31 poems in an attractively produced perfect bound volume. Normally the saying, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ should be adhered to, though in this case, the cover art fits the mood of the book entirely; water is a recurring theme throughout, generating a sense of tranquillity as you read the poems.

That is not to say the poems tread lightly in terms of seeking meaning; Ken’s work delves through memories and anecdotes showing the change from a youth of ‘obliquely watching’ life to spiritual refreshment and ultimately empowerment in later years, achieved through a new level of awareness and artistic success.

Ken’s experience as a professional artist creates vivid imagery throughout the collection. We witness the emotions of a person seeking value during an often painful journey and how ultimately the past, in isolation, becomes inherently meaningless unless the individual applies their own personal truth to the process. This is clear in poems such as ‘Compatibility’ on page 3:

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