Much to my astonishment my first book of poems Lovelines virtually sold out by Autumn 2020. By then we had gone through our first lockdown, and poems were buzzing about in my head, and in lots of other people’s.
I was delighted that my “team” of editor David, Illustrator Jeff and IT guru Cata, were all keen to help again with a second book “The Witching Hour”. It contains earlier poems, many of which were written in the 1980s and 1990s and as well as new ones written during lockdown.
The poems became the bedrock of my life during a difficult time, stories of myself, of other women and travellers that I clung to in the dark winter days of 2020/2021.
I write about family, about having been a single parent and the joy of becoming a grandmother. I muse on relationships lost and found, old and new and how little we ever really know about another.
Some of the poems reflect on the tragedy of being forcibly displaced and seeking asylum in a hostile environment, some cherish my own home in Hackney, and hold out the hope of building a new one to others.
Finally, I address my own fears, and those of others when dealing with both Covid and Cancer. And I take inspiration from the many courageous staff and patients I have met in the NHS since 2019.
Thank you, all those about whom I have written, and all those who will laugh and cry over these poems.
Sale proceeds will go to Care4Calais. I am currently a volunteer lawyer working with them to help and support asylum seekers placed in horrible conditions in hotels around London and beyond. We need every penny we can get.
Praise
“Personal, political and powerful. The images will remain” ~ Hilary Wainwright Red Pepper
“She’s got something here” ~ Raymond Antrobus, Poet
“Enjoy this book. It will make you laugh and cry simultaneously” ~ Liz Davies, Vice President, Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers
“Readers will see their lives echoed here” ~ Debbie Singer MBE poet, filmmaker
BOOK LAUNCH 🎂
3rd September 2021 6.30 to 9.30 pm with Sandra Howell venue yet to be decided. Let me know by messaging me on Twitter @WendyPettifer if you want to come.