Doggedly Onward: A Life in Poems

by Pam Ayres

"When I look over the poems in this book, I can trace the course of my life. The various stages are all the young woman juggling various boyfriends, the wife adrift amid the joy and terror of new motherhood, and the astounded, adoring granny. Here is the cavalcade of much-loved dogs, the fascination with wildlife, the travel, mistakes, regrets, the heartbreaking leaving of the family home and the sober business of aging." Doggedly Onward is Pam Ayres's career-defining collected works. As Britain's most read and adored poet, Pam has spent a lifetime bringing joy to us all, providing wise and hilarious insights into the delights and tribulations of daily life. Assembled for the first time in a single volume, Pam's life in poems is beautifully illustrated and annotated throughout with her own reflections on six decades of making the nation laugh and cry.

448 pages, Hardcover

Published October 3, 2024

About the author

Pam Ayres is a poet and published author of children's books. Some of her published credits include Guess Who, Guess What, Piggo and the Fork Lift Truck.

Reviews

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s an opus, all her best work in one handy collection
It includes all those we regale with affection
All the ones guaranteed to whip up a crowd
Her most requested for reciting out loud
It’s a book that deserves your undivided attention

She’s a whizz with a pen as she crafts on a page
Pieces she loves to perform on the stage
She’s observant, so topical, satirical, quite lyrical
Using just the right words what she does is a miracle
There’s something to suit every age

You’ll find a poem for every occasion
All to be enjoyed, regardless of gender, ethnicity or political persuasion
They’re witty, they’re wry, and some make you cry
If you read them you’ll understand why
When Opportunity Knocked she found her vocation

Under no bushel was her talent hid
She brought verse to the masses and i’m so glad she did
This book is a triumph, a must-have, a classic
Be warned though, it may well leave you brassic
The glossy new hardback is twenty-five quid!

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going to see Pam Ayers at the theatre next month so thought I would read this ahead of my visit. There are some great poems, some amusing, some sad. It is very long though so by the end they start to feel a bit samey. Probably better to dip in and out of this rather than read it all in one go.

[Jane West · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contains some amusing poems.

[Oz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed bag, as with any collection, and while I love that the wasp poem was included and apologised for, it makes me notice the (otherwise thankful) absence of that one minstrel show poem.