Head On

by Clare Shaw

From the direct trajectory of her first collection, Straight Ahead, Clare Shaw's second collection Head On turns an unflinching gaze into startling new territories. Structured by interweaving themes of political and personal conflict, the book begins and ends with the recurrent necessity of speaking out. And this is a book which speaks in equal measures, in precise and uncompromising language, about love and tenderness; violence and brutality. Clare Shaw writes to speak to the world. But first and foremost she speaks directly to the reader, through words which shock, engage, disturb and delight. This is a book which - in its content and its impact - sets out to establish and to challenge the limits of language. Exploring with unflinching focus and intent some of her darkest territory yet - but returning, as always, to the light -she offers us a furious but ultimately hopeful exploration of the world as she lives it.

Genres: Poetry

71 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2012

About the author

Clare Shaw was born in Burnley in 1972. Her first two collections were Straight Ahead (2006), which was shortlisted for the Glen Dimplex New Writers’ Award for Poetry and attracted a Forward Prize Highly Commended for Best Single Poem, and Head On (2012), which according to the Times Literary Supplement is 'fierce, memorable and visceral'. Her third collection, Flood, is published by Bloodaxe in June 2018. She is a Royal Literary Fellow, and a regular tutor for the Writing Project, the Poetry School, the Wordsworth Trust and the Arvon Foundation. She also works as a mental health trainer and consultant and has taught and published widely in the field, including Our Encounters with Self-Injury (eds. Baker, Biley and Shaw, PCCS 2013) and Otis Doesn't Scratch (PCCS 2015), a unique storybook resource for children who live with self-injury. Clare lives in Hebden Bridge with her daughter and their two pet rats; she enjoys rock climbing and wild swimming in cold and beautiful places.

Reviews

[Simon Pressinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a quick read through the first poem I wasn’t sure about whether I wanted to read this collection. Its grim opener clutches you by the throat and sort of says, ‘Listen’ — not a bad way to start, but then I’m still in festive reading mode. Regardless, I was pulled in. It turned into an very painful, personal, heartfelt series of poems, filled with moments of serious intrusion — such as the poet as rape victim, her daughter as a victim of an unspecified attack. Pain and loss is confronted head on, and is present throughout. There’s also some beautiful poems on hope and birth, pregnancy and the wonder of new life growing inside. In her poem ‘You’ (addressed to her unborn child) I really liked the way Shaw builds on the metaphor of her body as a world, her belly as bedrock and soil, the bump as a starry night sky. It’s a nice, thought-provoking series of images. Really good collection.

[Jessica Macdonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m reluctant to say anything negative about this as poetry is so subjective, so I’ll just say that these poems simply didn’t connect with me. There were some really well written lines but unfortunately they just didn’t make me feel much.

[Madeleine Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of hearing Clare Shaw perform some of her poetry from this breathtaking collection of poems, which was even more powerful and emotional than reading them Her beautifully crafted and confronting words jumped straight into my heart

[Rhiannon Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really powerful poems which deal with themes around birth, death, being different, and speaking out.

[Cooch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good poetry here

I can imagine how this sounds better than it reads. I found this good to say out loud. There are a few weaker poems

[J Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Clare and all their work!