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Division Street
"A stone is lobbed in ’84, hangs like a star over Orgreave. Welcome to Sheffield. Border-land,our town of miracles…" – Scab From the clash between striking miners and police to the delicate conflicts in personal relationships, Helen Mort’s stunning debut is marked by distance and division. Named for a street in Sheffield, this is a collection that cherishes the particularity of names; the reflections the world throws back at us; the precise moment of a realization. Distinctive and assured, these poems show us how, at the site of conflict, a moment of creation and reconciliation can be born.
63 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2013
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206 people want to read
About the author
Helen Mort
41 books63 followersHelen Mort is a poet and author from Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Her collection Division Street was shortlisted for the Costa Prize and the T.S. Eliot Prize and won the Fenton Aldeburgh Prize in 2014. She was described by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy as "among the brightest stars in the sparkling new constellation of young British poets". She is a Cultural Fellow at the University of Leeds, and one of the judges for the 2017 Man Booker International Prize.
Adapted from: http://www.poetaflamenco.com/
Adapted from: http://www.poetaflamenco.com/
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 9, 2019
I expected this to be more focused on the miner's strike than it was, especially from the blurb. What there was on this topic was amazing and I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed the other themes explored.
Common names was a gorgeous poem but the ones that had the biggest impact on me werepit closure as a tarintino short, scab and thinspiration.
Common names was a gorgeous poem but the ones that had the biggest impact on me werepit closure as a tarintino short, scab and thinspiration.
April 3, 2019
4.5 rounded down (might change)
February 19, 2014
Surfaces and borders are the arena of interaction. Helen Mort’s collection of poems covers various types of conflicts and awakenings.
Whether it’s human to human, avenues or streets, life and/or death, land and rivers, the friction sets in motion meaning and feeling, whether negative or positive.
Striking miners struck by police officers. The battle between the differently named, or the named and the unnamed. As the preface states, “at the site of conflict, a moment of reconciliation can be born.”
“I stand at the junction,
watch the traffic lights
change amber to red.
Think of them,
there at midnight,
changing for nobody.”
Whether it’s human to human, avenues or streets, life and/or death, land and rivers, the friction sets in motion meaning and feeling, whether negative or positive.
“what she sees she cannot tell,
but what she knows of distances,
and doesn’t say, I know as well.”
Striking miners struck by police officers. The battle between the differently named, or the named and the unnamed. As the preface states, “at the site of conflict, a moment of reconciliation can be born.”
“Come back: we’ll take the slim, once-wanted moon,
unfashionable blackboard sky. No-one will miss
the world tonight. Let’s have the lot.”
December 23, 2013
For a debut book of poems, I was very impressed by Helen Mort. There is something about the storytelling within each poems, even the very shortest that makes me want to know more. What is the situation, what made her write this, and that is what makes me turn the page to read the next poem.
A few are based on real life situations in her English life, such as "Scab" and "North of Everywhere," but I found more in common with the poems about relationships, even when they are mysterious. Poems like "The Girl Next Door," "The Judgement of Solomon," and "End."
I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. But hey, even The Guardian praised this book of poems!
A few are based on real life situations in her English life, such as "Scab" and "North of Everywhere," but I found more in common with the poems about relationships, even when they are mysterious. Poems like "The Girl Next Door," "The Judgement of Solomon," and "End."
I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. But hey, even The Guardian praised this book of poems!
October 14, 2016
I didn't love this as much as Mort's second collection, but for a debut it is really good! Her voice is strong, portraying a range of emotions and atmospheres; from angry to sad, and down-right sinister. Although I wasn't bowled over, I did enjoy reading the collection and wanted to keep reading; so much so I read it in one sitting. Mort is so diverse that you don't know what you are going to get next, and that is exciting.
Poems I really enjoyed: 'Take Notes', 'Deer', 'The Girl Next Door' (so creepy!), 'Night' (quiet beauty, eerie vibe) and 'The Year of the Ostrich'.
I am definitely a Helen Mort fan now. She is on my auto-buy list for sure.
Poems I really enjoyed: 'Take Notes', 'Deer', 'The Girl Next Door' (so creepy!), 'Night' (quiet beauty, eerie vibe) and 'The Year of the Ostrich'.
I am definitely a Helen Mort fan now. She is on my auto-buy list for sure.
April 10, 2015
Wonderful Poet.. enthralling read. Travelled with this collection.
March 8, 2023
so much in such a slim volume of poetry, i didn't think i'd enjoy this as much as i thought i would. and to think i almost left it at the oxfam.
unfortunately, the poems get a bit weaker towards the middle / end bit, but the beginning is so strong. the collection is very much centred around places; they come alive like characters of their own, even more visible and tangible than any human mentioned within.
what i loved about mort in particular was the acuity of her verbs. some examples: "..watch the dusk disguise..."; "room rinsed in sunlight"; "stones worn treacherous by centuries."
favourites:
- brocken spectre
- litton mill
- the french for death
unfortunately, the poems get a bit weaker towards the middle / end bit, but the beginning is so strong. the collection is very much centred around places; they come alive like characters of their own, even more visible and tangible than any human mentioned within.
what i loved about mort in particular was the acuity of her verbs. some examples: "..watch the dusk disguise..."; "room rinsed in sunlight"; "stones worn treacherous by centuries."
favourites:
- brocken spectre
- litton mill
- the french for death
June 5, 2018
Really enjoyed this collection. Loved how familiar this poetry collection felt as a lot of poems are about Sheffield and Grasmere/surrounding areas - which are places I know quite well.
'Fagan's' is definitely my favourite poem in the collection.
'Fagan's' is definitely my favourite poem in the collection.
October 8, 2020
Simply and truly amazing. It is really that good.
Full review to follow once it is determined if I should have gotten this British only ARC.
I just bought her other collection A Pint for the Ghosts. You know when you have read great poetry that several hours later you are still thinking about it and going "wow"...
So I was allowed to have it...
Division Street by Helen Mort is an incredible selection of poetry. The twenty-eight year old Mort is a five time winner of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award, poet-in-residence at the Wordsworth Trust, winner of the Eric Gregory Award in 2007, Manchester Young Writer Prize in 2008, Derbyshire Poet Laureate, and a PhD student at Sheffield University. She is short listed for the T.S. Eliot Prize and the Costa Poetry Award. She has earned a quite an impressive resume for someone who has not reached the age of thirty.
When I talk to other book people, one topic that comes up is who will be this century's great writers? Who will be remembered as part of the twenty-first Century “Bloomsbury Group”? Who will define these early years for the rest of the century and beyond. There are plenty of writers and plenty of very talented writers. I have been lucky enough read and review some of their work. The internet and independent publishing has opened the world to many writers, more than any time in history, and yet I still wonder who will be remembered as the voice of these times. I am not sure who all the great names will be, but Helen Mort will be one of them.
I don't think I have gotten totally caught up in a selection of poetry like Division Street since I read Leaves of Grass. The writing pulls you in completely and totally. You do not want to put the book down, and the hours will pass quickly and when you finally put the book down, you'll need a few minutes, or longer, to come back down to your reality. These are poems in which you can truly lose yourself. The gritty urban environment is the state of nature for Mort's work. There is not a beautiful pastoral setting. It was a brutal time when the coal miners went on a year long strike threatening to bring down the Thatcher government like they had the Heath government a decade before. There was violence and chaos and the entire British economy suffered. Thatcher won, but to this day that wound has not healed. This is a collection of man against government, the twenty-first century version of man against nature.
“Scab” manages to perfectly combine the violence of the strike with “We Three Kings” in a biblical saga of the strike. “Thinspiration Shots” take on the pro-anorexia web sites that promote anorexia as a lifestyle. There is also a gentler side to her work also “Deer” and “Night” reflect these feelings. “The Dogs” are about her own two canines. “End” is a cleverly written poem with a play on a “little death”. If you are going to read only one collection of poetry, read this one. It will hook you on poetry. For those who lament the direction contemporary writing is heading, read Division Street. It will renew your faith in contemporary writing.
This was 197th book I reviewed this year and probably the one that moved the deepest and the most. I sat for nearly half an hour after reading Division Street, just thinking “Wow!” Once I came down, I went and ordered Mort's other collection Pint for the Ghosts. Yes, her writing is that good. This was the book that knocked me off my usual level headed, stoic mindset and moved me into an impassioned review.
Full review to follow once it is determined if I should have gotten this British only ARC.
I just bought her other collection A Pint for the Ghosts. You know when you have read great poetry that several hours later you are still thinking about it and going "wow"...
So I was allowed to have it...
Division Street by Helen Mort is an incredible selection of poetry. The twenty-eight year old Mort is a five time winner of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award, poet-in-residence at the Wordsworth Trust, winner of the Eric Gregory Award in 2007, Manchester Young Writer Prize in 2008, Derbyshire Poet Laureate, and a PhD student at Sheffield University. She is short listed for the T.S. Eliot Prize and the Costa Poetry Award. She has earned a quite an impressive resume for someone who has not reached the age of thirty.
When I talk to other book people, one topic that comes up is who will be this century's great writers? Who will be remembered as part of the twenty-first Century “Bloomsbury Group”? Who will define these early years for the rest of the century and beyond. There are plenty of writers and plenty of very talented writers. I have been lucky enough read and review some of their work. The internet and independent publishing has opened the world to many writers, more than any time in history, and yet I still wonder who will be remembered as the voice of these times. I am not sure who all the great names will be, but Helen Mort will be one of them.
I don't think I have gotten totally caught up in a selection of poetry like Division Street since I read Leaves of Grass. The writing pulls you in completely and totally. You do not want to put the book down, and the hours will pass quickly and when you finally put the book down, you'll need a few minutes, or longer, to come back down to your reality. These are poems in which you can truly lose yourself. The gritty urban environment is the state of nature for Mort's work. There is not a beautiful pastoral setting. It was a brutal time when the coal miners went on a year long strike threatening to bring down the Thatcher government like they had the Heath government a decade before. There was violence and chaos and the entire British economy suffered. Thatcher won, but to this day that wound has not healed. This is a collection of man against government, the twenty-first century version of man against nature.
“Scab” manages to perfectly combine the violence of the strike with “We Three Kings” in a biblical saga of the strike. “Thinspiration Shots” take on the pro-anorexia web sites that promote anorexia as a lifestyle. There is also a gentler side to her work also “Deer” and “Night” reflect these feelings. “The Dogs” are about her own two canines. “End” is a cleverly written poem with a play on a “little death”. If you are going to read only one collection of poetry, read this one. It will hook you on poetry. For those who lament the direction contemporary writing is heading, read Division Street. It will renew your faith in contemporary writing.
This was 197th book I reviewed this year and probably the one that moved the deepest and the most. I sat for nearly half an hour after reading Division Street, just thinking “Wow!” Once I came down, I went and ordered Mort's other collection Pint for the Ghosts. Yes, her writing is that good. This was the book that knocked me off my usual level headed, stoic mindset and moved me into an impassioned review.
January 24, 2014
I am fortunate enough to have heard Helen Mort read on a number of occasions when she was in Cambridge and I have heard, but not seen, some of these poems before. Their impact in their original written form is just as strong and her distinctive poetic voice shines clearly through all these poems, not just the ones I've had the pleasure of hearing her read.
The poems in "Division Street", her debut full collection which was rightly short-listed for the T.S. Eliot Prize, are lyrical, artfully constructed, assured and striking. They resonate with echoes of distance and division and the sensibilities of her North of England roots. There are both personal and political poems, poems about emotional loss and the end of relationships, the impact and thought processes of aneorexia, the political and social tensions engendered by the Miners' Strike of the 1980s, familial relationships, the division caused by foreign languages and cultures, the divide between neighbours which grows strangely and inexplicably narrow, the distance between how we see ourselves and how others see us.
Some poems like "Items Carried Up Ben Nevis" are surreal, others like "The Dogs" are very grounded and matter of fact. In all instances Mort's use of imagery is imaginative and impactful. Mort has a minimalist style of writing which is definitely a case of less is more. Her superb control of language and rhythm creates depth and meaning to these poems beyond the words printed on the page. These are poems that linger long after you have read them and ones which you will want to revisit again and again.
This is a gem of a poetry collection.
The poems in "Division Street", her debut full collection which was rightly short-listed for the T.S. Eliot Prize, are lyrical, artfully constructed, assured and striking. They resonate with echoes of distance and division and the sensibilities of her North of England roots. There are both personal and political poems, poems about emotional loss and the end of relationships, the impact and thought processes of aneorexia, the political and social tensions engendered by the Miners' Strike of the 1980s, familial relationships, the division caused by foreign languages and cultures, the divide between neighbours which grows strangely and inexplicably narrow, the distance between how we see ourselves and how others see us.
Some poems like "Items Carried Up Ben Nevis" are surreal, others like "The Dogs" are very grounded and matter of fact. In all instances Mort's use of imagery is imaginative and impactful. Mort has a minimalist style of writing which is definitely a case of less is more. Her superb control of language and rhythm creates depth and meaning to these poems beyond the words printed on the page. These are poems that linger long after you have read them and ones which you will want to revisit again and again.
This is a gem of a poetry collection.
March 1, 2014
You know what sold me on this collection? Not the fact that Carol Ann Duffy said that Mort was one of the “brightest stars in the sparkling new constellation of young British Poets”. Not the visually appealing cover that hints at my politically left inclinations. No, it was the poet herself reading Miss Heath (included in the collection and appended below). There’s a lesson in there for small publishers of poetry(and poets) I think. Never underestimate that extra something a poem read in the poet’s voice can provide.
Still it was a risk spending $30 on someone I had only heard on Youtube. A reader can be burned by cover blurbs, more so in communities that are small, where poets are friends and/or part of a movement or trend. That’s not to suggest nepotism or something like it; more the reality that familiarity can breed appreciation that might not extend to the wider public.
It was a risk worth the taking though. I think I have discovered a poet who’s career I’d like to follow and whose work definitely gives me joy.
Read the rest of the reveiw at Adventures of a Bookonut
Still it was a risk spending $30 on someone I had only heard on Youtube. A reader can be burned by cover blurbs, more so in communities that are small, where poets are friends and/or part of a movement or trend. That’s not to suggest nepotism or something like it; more the reality that familiarity can breed appreciation that might not extend to the wider public.
It was a risk worth the taking though. I think I have discovered a poet who’s career I’d like to follow and whose work definitely gives me joy.
Read the rest of the reveiw at Adventures of a Bookonut
January 22, 2015
This a book imbued with the North – Northerness seeps from its very pores. It is a gritty, largely realistic, and clearly a lot of it is (or appears convincingly) to be based on personal experience. I didn’t love the book as a whole, but there are moments of real beauty in the writing. The title poem, for example, is bleak, wistful and immensely moving. Sometimes I felt though (and I might be mistaken) that some of the poems might have been edited with slightly too heavy a hand, so that the sparkiness so apparent in some of the stronger poems is missing. But this may be because Mort is still relatively young and that her confidence in her own choices will grow over time. She does capture really well the feel of a post-industrial town, the hopelessness and the hankering for those better times now gone.
December 2, 2014
This is one of those collections of poems that you will read straight through and then wish that you could have the opportunity to befriend the poet. I want to know the person that wrote this verse. I want to look into the eyes of someone with this much talent. I want to find out if I am as mesmerized by her physical voice as I am by the voice of her pen. What a thrill to imagine what she will do next.
June 27, 2014
I'm finished - except I'm not ever going to be finished. I love all these poems but I understand very few so I have plenty to enjoy as I revisit and revisit. I am caught by subject and language together - learning one of the poems by heart it seems very direct, very few unnecessary words, no padding, and a speaking voice.
November 19, 2013
"Full of poetic rigour and
aqua fortis, this northern spirit,
Helen Mort-is!"
- Andrew O'Byrne (urban poet).
Well worth the effort of reading closely; a very promising debut, full-volume collection.
aqua fortis, this northern spirit,
Helen Mort-is!"
- Andrew O'Byrne (urban poet).
Well worth the effort of reading closely; a very promising debut, full-volume collection.
April 27, 2014
Wow this rising star is amazing. I started out expecting this book to be good due to its reviews, but it reached a part of my soul I didn't realize it could. I can't wait for Mort's next work and will be the first in line to buy it.
March 24, 2025
I was particularly taken with Thread and Brocken Spectre. The former is an evocation of the living as being kites tethered to their predecessors; the latter a beautiful conjuration of the phenomenon of the ghost runner who accompanies some outdoor types during their exertions, and how that could also be a ghostly, but welcome, presence. Much else to like here but these are my take-aways.
April 20, 2020
Helen Mort creates a wonderful atmosphere in the poems in this collection. Great to read while we're in lockdown. Se took me back to some places I know and introduced me to others that I've not yet visited.
October 9, 2025
A spiky combination of poems that don’t always mesh smoothly, and all of which are interesting. Rhymes and changes of rhythm when I do expect them and when I don’t, keeping me on my toes while reading. Really enjoyed this.
March 23, 2020
Feeling gently tackled by painful, lost beauty, like when you can’t tell what kind of tears are on your cheeks. I could read Mort for a lifetime.
June 15, 2021
Moja nova najdraža pjesnikinja ❤
November 16, 2021
I love this collection. I could associate with every poem. my favourite was Brocken Spectre. I copied it out and I'm trying to learn it by heart.
June 27, 2022
nostalgia, sentimentalism, localities, divisions, contrasts - a fully realised and smart collection gravitated to the experiences of a home city
May 7, 2014
Although I'm reading this now because it is on the shortlist for the East Midlands Book Award 2014 (and it's poetry), it is pretty certain I would have got around to it eventually what with it being shortlisted for the TS Elliot prize and her being Derbyshire Poet Laureate. And I think my 'not quite so impressed as others' feeling may be unfairly based on my expectations resting on my experience of reading previous Derbyshire Laureate's collections - the ones published at the end of their office. Without fail so far I have been captivated by those, and this didn't have the same impact on me. I've not got the feel of Helen Mort's poetry yet, not without that Laureateship lubricant.
Yet I have a feeling these poems may be ones I return to again. Certainly some of them stirred me: North of Everywhere was a great one to read following on from Robert Shore's Bang in the Middle "My body was a compass needle/guiding me past every place/I'd once called North..." Good point! The range of subjects is impressive and appealing - social commentary certainly but not hackneyed. I particularly liked The Dogs in which she empathises with her pets' view of the world, and Brocken Spectre, a poem about her father unable to run beside her any more "I'm keeping to a track/you pointed out to me ten years ago"
Yet I have a feeling these poems may be ones I return to again. Certainly some of them stirred me: North of Everywhere was a great one to read following on from Robert Shore's Bang in the Middle "My body was a compass needle/guiding me past every place/I'd once called North..." Good point! The range of subjects is impressive and appealing - social commentary certainly but not hackneyed. I particularly liked The Dogs in which she empathises with her pets' view of the world, and Brocken Spectre, a poem about her father unable to run beside her any more "I'm keeping to a track/you pointed out to me ten years ago"
October 17, 2015
A "first impression" review. I keep revising my rating between 3 and 4 stars. I found some of the poems engaging and thought- provoking, ("Scab", "The Girl Next Door") and others a little obtuse, e.g. "Thinspiration Shots".
However, I think this collection will be worth re-reading and perhaps the apparent obscurity of some of the poems is more of a failing on my part than the poet's.
However, I think this collection will be worth re-reading and perhaps the apparent obscurity of some of the poems is more of a failing on my part than the poet's.
May 17, 2018
I liked this book. Helen is a very good poet and I look forward to reading more other work in the future. Recommended reading.
February 17, 2024
Some really lovely poems in here.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews