ABOUT THE BOOK
a fondness for the colour green, Charlie Baylis. Available here. Published by Broken Sleep Books.
MICROREVIEW BY JAYD GREEN
From the outset, a fondness for the colour green offers a bright glittering kaleidoscope to the reader. The poems oscillate between a deep frustration and a willing silliness. The page is not serious, and few are above the laceration of character contained in this collection. Many of the poems operate on a claw machine-like structure: but instead of a bug-eyed neon plush cat, the prize is a poet, film or other piece of media for the reader to add to their treasure.
between you & me sean bonney
i’ve had enough of this shit
nothing everyone & nobody
the city is killing me
the city hates my poetry
the city is a fucking nightmare
dystopia
The constancy of references to poets and media figures can become alienating, like the speaker and the poem are whispering together about a secret the reader doesn’t know. Perhaps this reveals more about the reader. At times, the poems take on the mode of chattering to a reflection in the mirror: nonsensical, fleeting and yet feeling like something of great importance is happening every moment. This, along with the free-falling conversational tone, displays one of the returning themes of the collection: a swinging between connection and disconnect with people.
Curiosity and avoidance spiral throughout many of the poems, with a somewhat ambivalent response to the reader’s presence. The ‘Jenny’ poems are incredibly playful – illuminating the comedic touch of the rest of the collection – and provide a light reprieve from some of the blunt language of a hard truth you aren’t quite ready to hear.
i’m so sorry i didn’t quite catch your name
it sounded like charlie boredshitless
small cities in belgium
ABOUT OUR MICROREVIEWS
At Osmosis, our reviewers are encouraged to respond to and review work creatively. The only formal limitation is a word count guide of 250 words. Short, sweet and with a little bite. We see reviews as a chance to converse, whether that’s about form, creative practice, ideas or language. Interested in reviewing with us? Have a book you’d like to see reviewed? Contact our Reviews Editor, Jayd Green.
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