This is the Me I Would Be if I Dared

by Angela Smith

The debut collection from one of Manchester's most outstanding poetry talents. Angela Smith has everything that defines a good range, dexterity and intelligence, but also an impish sense of fun. Her work inspects love and everyday existence from oblique angles, with only a little help from fairies and butterflies. A favourite on the Manchester live poetry scene, Angela co-edited the first volume of the Best of Manchester Poets anthology. "Tender rhapsodies of blues and joy awaken in almost every stanza." - Gerry Potter "All the fragile beauty of a butterfly's wing but this butterfly wears boxing gloves. Often hard-hitting, frequently funny and always incredibly engaging." - Dominic Berry

Genres: Poetry

86 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2011

Reviews

[Kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is a glamour. This is not the world."

Beautiful.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This slim book of poetry was written by an 'imaginary' friend of mine. I've never met her in real life, but we've spent years sharing thoughts, lobbing kittens, and interacting with eachother, so if that's not friendship, I don't know what is!

I was lucky enough to have been invited to read many of the poems in this book before it was published. Angela's writing is sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, sometimes kickass. There's something in here for everyone and contains the sort of work that draws you back again and again to glean something new from a poem you've read before.

You think you know her:
Cobweb-light, sweetly eccentric,
Harmless.
Think again.
One flap of her wings
And China trembles.
One stamp of her foot
And islands drown.
Flap - feel the earth shake.
Stamp - feel your heart break.
Don't mess with the butterfly.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm biased - this is my book. But I do think it's pretty good - and the cover rocks!

[Mary Arkless]

Came in the post today. :)