A Lick and a Promise

by Imelda May

The audiobook version of A Lick and a Promise read by Imelda May.

A Lick and a Promise is the debut poetry collection of one of Ireland’s most famed female musicians, Imelda May.

Following the release of her first poetry EP Slip Of The Tongue in 2020, this collection contains 100 poems, including two each from both her father and young daughter. Using the themes of Breast, Below, Blood, Eyes, Tongue and Temple, the poems are written in May’s absorbing, visceral style and encapsulate heartbreak, sex, nature and womanhood. Included in the collection is ‘You Don’t Get to be Racist and Irish’, the powerful poem which was written in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and was recently used by Rethink Ireland campaign.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction

Audible Audio

First published October 28, 2021

Reviews

[hawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

exciting to find a new (to the library, and to me) audiobook title in the catalogue 😃

I enjoyed this poetry collection 🙂

art, life, love, sex, the body...

very bodily/visceral, quite intimate - in content, language, emotion... but never "too much"

I especially liked the poem 'You Don't Get to Be Irish and Racist' - Celtic experiences of colonialism, and not perpetuating it/standing in solidarity 🖤✊🏾❤


🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟


accessed as a National Poetry Library audiobook, read by the author 🙂

[Farnz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Lick & a Promise by Imelda May:3.5⭐️

Oh little flower, simple & pure, what have they done to you? Your blood, that was shed, at the beds, of the dead, fragile & red, in fields once green, now mutated to badges, cheeses & toys(36)

This is the debut poetry collection of one of Ireland's most famed female musicians, Imelda May. I didn’t know who she was before picking it up. I was originally drawn to this book cause of its beautiful cover. This collection has 104 poems, & uses the themes: Breast, Below, Blood, Eyes, Tongue, & Temple. It has interesting illustrations done by the autour herself. There were times that I thought she could push herself more & be clever. Overall, I liked home (3), mammy’s dying (118), & you don’t get to be racist & Irish (31). My fave was poppy (36). I didn’t like B & W (126), Wofes? (93), & ismart (79). Below was my least fave section. Eye & temple were forgettable too

+ highly specific I disagree with “Don’t throw away I love you” (pg 9). I disagree that you shouldn’t use i love you that much cause it’s sacred. Every day is a gift & if you love someone, you should let them know that every chance you get. To me “I love you” is comfort, it’s something you share as often as possible & not something you hoard, fearing it’s too much. Also, at times the poetry give me Rupi Kaur vibes (if you’ve read her work, you know the style I’m talking about). My friend tea agrees. If you’re into super traditional poetry, you might not enjoy this one

[By Book and Bone (Sally) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first read-through of this poetry collection was very up and down. Some of Imelda May's work is genuinely fantastic but many of these poems feel unfinished or dare I say, jotted down and not looked at again before publishing. I feel mean saying that but when there's some clearly great work and quite a few pretty terrible poems included for... what reason exactly? Especially when you have several very similar poems in a row that very much feel like notes and stanza drafts of the same idea.

If this collection had been slimmed down, it could easily have been a high 4 or even 5 star.

[c]

its like... okay

[Róisin (somethingarosie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful hardback cover with lovely poetry on the pages inside. Imelda May is a lyricist so her poetry being brilliant, is not a surprise. She definitely has a way with words. I love the lilt of Irishness in the narratives of her poems. Really really lovely.

Wonderful - 5⭐️

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some short and some longer poems, some funny and some deep. Altogether a great read, narrated by the author in audiobook

[Chris Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imelda May clearly has a gift when it comes to the written word. This collection contains some wonderfully composed poems which move from the witty to the sensitive, the passionate to the deep with skill and verve. Most have a rhythm which reveals itself to the reader as the poem unfolds; it is no surprise that they are lyrical given her musical background though. Unlike some poetry collections I found myself returning to several of the poems; either because they revealed more upon further reading or they were just finely written and a pleasure to read.
The book itself is beautifully presented, and the illustrations work well not only to enhance the poetry but also to add, in my opinion, a little 'fun'.
Poetry, by its very nature, is a very personal beast, and this is very clear in much of the subject matter about which May writes. One or two of the poems appear almost as snippets or sketches for longer works - but then whoever set a length for the 'perfect' poem?
All in all this is a great collection which is well worth exploring
Highly recommended.

[Delia · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the lovely Imelda May announced that she was releasing a collection of poems, I knew I had to get my hands on it. When she announced a special green edition, numbered and autographed, I threw my credit card at the computer without hesitation. I have had this collection of poems for a few years now and I am a bit embarrassed to say that I only now decided to read it (hey, the past couple of years have been a LOT, ok?).

As much as I enjoy reading, poems always seem to be more difficult for me to fully grasp. Some of the poems in this collection did require me to reread a few times. But, overall, I truly enjoyed these. They were sweet, sexy, sad, funny, powerful, and honestly brought a smile to my face.

[Callum McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed my time with this. May's background as a musician & songwriter shows in the emphasis on storytelling, rhythm, and flow throughout her poetry. The pieces she wrote about her parents were the most resonant, and while there are undeniably some gems, there's also a fair bit of filler - small scraps of poems that reiterate ideas already explored in other pieces. The strength of May's voice - which is passionate yet approachable - could have shone more had the collection been stripped back a little.

The illustrations are a nice touch, emphasizing May's all-round artistic talent.

[Sandie Nease · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m mad that I just now discovered this poetry collection.

I have an emotional connection to Imelda May as I found her at such a tender phase of my life, and abused the repeat button as I played Mayhem over and over again. Her music touched me in ways I can say only a few have.

It’s funny how in different moments I seem to find reconnection through her art.

These poems were something I needed in my life right now. They were beautiful, heartbreaking, passionate, gut wrenching, enchanting, and all the words I couldn’t find.

Definitely my favorite collection.

[Poetry Review · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would not recommend

I believe the only reason that this book was published is that Imelda May was a successful singer. This book needs a editor as some poems are little more than choruses or verses of songs that she didn’t complete. If this is where Irish poetry is now than Romantic Ireland is dead and gone.

[Gem (The Creepy Geek) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will preface this by saying I'm super dense when it comes to poetry but the few other collections I've read, I could follow what the poems meant. Sometimes these ones just totally lost me. But there were a couple of stand out ones.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mindful meander through a stunning book

[Filipa_RsCs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked some poems but it wasn't really my vibe.

[Emma Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liberty Belle—

She’s like no one
You’ve met before
A rare little flower
A precious stone…

[mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

11/10 loved it so much so relatable