Defying Gravity

by Roger McGough

In this evocative and personal collection of poems Roger McGough comes to terms with painful memories as well as confronting fears that are universal. Here he remembers his father in ‘Squaring Up’ and ‘Alphabet Soup’; observes the eccentricities of contemporary life in ‘The City of London Tour’; gives insights into human feeling with the surreal ‘Your Favourite Hat’ and the moving elegy ‘Defying Gravity’; and muses on writing itself with ‘Word Trap’ and ‘The Darling Buds of Maybe’. There are even witty poems dedicated to the chemical elements. Blending the everyday and the magical, his verses sparkle with verbal dexterity, irreverent humour, irony and heartfelt compassion.

Genres: Poetry

107 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 1993

Reviews

[Christopher S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My copy of this book has yellowed pages with frayed edges, coffee stains, dog-eared corners and very likely multiple DNA traces from several previous readers. I am a great admirer of the Lord of Verse and his wonderful ability to cross cultures, age groups and time zones by knitting stories of humour, glory, pathos as well as misery, loss and want in such small spaces. I envy this ability.

[Grace Ogden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think It’s right to say this book is a book for everyone who enjoys reading. I can say it would be a lovely book for someone who’s wanting to get into poetry as McGough covers a wide range of topics. I particularly enjoyed the last segment of this book titled “The Elements”. I read Defying Gravity in only a few days and I’d be happy to read more from Roger McGough. My copy is covered in post it notes :D

[Peter Longden · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sealey Challenge 2025
Day 30: ‘Defying Gravity’ by Roger McGough
It's the penultimate Sealey Day - 29 poetry books read and only two (- under the guise of the Sealey Challenge - to go. And what better poet to turn to to maintain the marvel of verse so far explored than a Roger McGough collection. 'Defying Gravity' is filled with oblique looks at society, many with great humour, some, like the titular poem, poignant with sadness. This year's reading has once again been marked by the quality of books I have been able to gather together to read in the challenge, this one from theworld famous Cinema Bookshop in Hay-on-Wye.
Brillieant collection.

[Sorren Briarwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at random, and a couple of the poems did bring a smile to my face, but unfortunately, McGough falls back on transphobic "humour" at times– a real shame, considering he clearly has the ability to write genuinely funny poems. My personal favourites were the ones themed around the elements that are clustered at the end of the book. Ultimately though, this was a pretty forgettable collection, and I wouldn’t be compelled to seek out more of his work.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fun and playful poems.

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite poets to read and re-read, find a new laugh and a new tenderly written, wry, nostalgic charm-piece every time you bend back the cover...

[Alltheseeds · Rating 3 out of 5]

underwhelming compared to earlier works - some good on aging/death