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The Light Of Day
Prize-winning poet Jonathan Finch has collected some poems which he never submitted for the appraisal of editors and has published them via KDP and Createspace. Poems which editors approved of, liked and published can be read in "Poems People Liked (1)" and "Poems People Liked (2)". In this series, "The Light Of Day", previously unpublished verse can be read and assessed by poetry-lovers everywhere. Finch's poems cover a variety of subjects like family, nature, society, criminality and the loss of positive direction. Although his muse is generally speaking silent these days, "The Light Of Day (I)" contains some recent work, commissioned by the composer Marcus Tristan. The poems in "The Light Of Day (I)" are sometimes lyrical, they rely on carefully chosen rhythms, rhyme is often present, and metre makes itself felt. Diverse verse with many themes and wide appeal, the series "The Light Of Day" hopes to shed light on poetry put away for many years in files and drawers where it languished for want of sunshine and light.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 19, 2023
I love poetry. Unlike reading a novel where we are supposed to be invested in the characters and the storyline, well written poetry can give us a direct insight into the poet's mindset and recollections. Jonathan Finch's THE LIGHT OF DAY (1) gives us that. While many of poems provide a glimpse of Finch's homeland, England, many others come across as deep and personal. I would describe Finch's style as progressive and free flowing. Unafraid. Not your standard rhyme and verse construction.
I particularly loved 'The Melancholic Poet Gives Due Praise to His Colleagues and to the Mediocracy'
“We are not villains – we are just bad poets going old together,”
“Better than lowing heifers “and your croco. meat. But I digress, “thinking of Aussies, and their like.”
“while every day’s a hopeless thief eating small pasts which seem impossible to change.”
"to have seen the bloodiest of roses bloom, perfecting the nakedness of violence, the flowers of violence lifting their perfect, wounded heads from the seam and lap of winter’s darkness?"
These snippets from different poems in the catalog show that Finch has a keen sense of his surroundings and can masterfully weave them into his writing. I may have missed the punchline of some poems relating to past people or events in England, but I enjoyed the exposure all the same.
While titles such as 'To My Father, Worried by Cancer', 'Unfriendly Parting', 'Adultery', 'Envy', and 'Getting Nowhere' explore more sombre topics.
I would recommend this book to readers who love thoughtful prose. Like a good hearty stew, this is poetry of substance, complete with 'the meat and potatoes'.
I particularly loved 'The Melancholic Poet Gives Due Praise to His Colleagues and to the Mediocracy'
“We are not villains – we are just bad poets going old together,”
“Better than lowing heifers “and your croco. meat. But I digress, “thinking of Aussies, and their like.”
“while every day’s a hopeless thief eating small pasts which seem impossible to change.”
"to have seen the bloodiest of roses bloom, perfecting the nakedness of violence, the flowers of violence lifting their perfect, wounded heads from the seam and lap of winter’s darkness?"
These snippets from different poems in the catalog show that Finch has a keen sense of his surroundings and can masterfully weave them into his writing. I may have missed the punchline of some poems relating to past people or events in England, but I enjoyed the exposure all the same.
While titles such as 'To My Father, Worried by Cancer', 'Unfriendly Parting', 'Adultery', 'Envy', and 'Getting Nowhere' explore more sombre topics.
I would recommend this book to readers who love thoughtful prose. Like a good hearty stew, this is poetry of substance, complete with 'the meat and potatoes'.
August 20, 2022
This is the third or fourth book I’ve read by Jonathan Finch, and once again it was a very interesting, rewarding experience.
In the introduction of the book, the author explains that he began writing poetry at the age of 16, and by his mid-twenties his work was being published in magazines.
After reading some of the poems in this book, I can believe that.
I got the feeling that I was reading the work of a brave poet, a poet who isn’t scared of displaying his honest thoughts on the page. With names like, ‘Getting Rid of Insects from Lightshades’, and ‘Adultery’, you never know what’s coming next. And with the kind of daring descriptions I read in ‘The Pleasure Palace’, shock was never too far away.
A great book. Highly recommended for all fans of poetry.
In the introduction of the book, the author explains that he began writing poetry at the age of 16, and by his mid-twenties his work was being published in magazines.
After reading some of the poems in this book, I can believe that.
I got the feeling that I was reading the work of a brave poet, a poet who isn’t scared of displaying his honest thoughts on the page. With names like, ‘Getting Rid of Insects from Lightshades’, and ‘Adultery’, you never know what’s coming next. And with the kind of daring descriptions I read in ‘The Pleasure Palace’, shock was never too far away.
A great book. Highly recommended for all fans of poetry.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews