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Strange Colours
There's no easy way to describe love. Its colours are ever-changing. Within these pages are pieces about falling in love, devotion and desire, but there are also pieces about unrequited love, heartache and loss. This book, like love, is a kaleidoscope. These are love's strange colours.
125 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2020
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6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 6, 2022
I loved reading a section of this each night. Each poem was beautiful and enchanting. Middleham not only separated each section by color, but wove those colors throughout the poems that followed, giving them feeling and a deeper meaning. This collection tells a story of profound love to heartbreaking losses and I enjoyed every bit of it. A truly emotional and beautiful collection.
May 25, 2020
A look into the colours of love. David Middleham has captured a love affair in words. It is a beautiful and heartbreaking. I felt every word, every line. He has found the essence of love that many of us look for and can't seem to find. It is my hope that he continues on this journey of exploration into the human soul.
December 7, 2020
A beautiful collection of poems exploring love, loss and everything in between. From the first page I was hooked and enchanted by how beautifully written each poem is. No poem is the same and yet they each capture your attention and your emotions. A truly talented poet.
March 1, 2021
Remarkable poetry, musical, I read them many of them almost like songs, “I want to write something so touching you’ll want to commit it to your skin in ink” - one of my favorite lines, mission accomplished, this is a truly touching collection.
December 15, 2020
Don’t scar a page with insincerity
Your words are eternal.
So writes David Middleham in perhaps the shortest piece of his collection. He has taken his own words as warning and guide.
Strange Colours is a moving examination of a love affair in all its glory, beauty, passion and pain. The poems are organized into subsections/chapters, each defined by one or more colours — and not just the red of the heart or the black of loss. Here we have a kaleidoscope of feeling, a synesthete’s perception of the hues and tints of love and agony.
And yet, I did not find these colours strange. Rather, the poet’s words spoke to me, reflected my own thoughts, clarified rather than obscured — sometimes to the point of tears — human thought. These colours are real and true.
Not every poem is perfect, and somehow that brings more honesty to this howl of passion. Sometimes he paints an erotic crimson over his lover’s body. Sometimes he daubs loss in jet and shadow. Sometimes he breaks your heart or makes you long to hold your lover in your arms.
I am sorry to add a second spoiler. Perhaps this seems simple to those who peer inside themselves, but I have never been able to put words to this feeling until now:
“Sometimes being with the person you love most of all is the hardest thing in the world.”
Simple words, that nonetheless rang in my head long after I had read them. Strange Colours is a beautiful, often searing collection accessible to all, even those who do not normally appreciate poetry. If you love, also read.
Your words are eternal.
So writes David Middleham in perhaps the shortest piece of his collection. He has taken his own words as warning and guide.
Strange Colours is a moving examination of a love affair in all its glory, beauty, passion and pain. The poems are organized into subsections/chapters, each defined by one or more colours — and not just the red of the heart or the black of loss. Here we have a kaleidoscope of feeling, a synesthete’s perception of the hues and tints of love and agony.
And yet, I did not find these colours strange. Rather, the poet’s words spoke to me, reflected my own thoughts, clarified rather than obscured — sometimes to the point of tears — human thought. These colours are real and true.
Not every poem is perfect, and somehow that brings more honesty to this howl of passion. Sometimes he paints an erotic crimson over his lover’s body. Sometimes he daubs loss in jet and shadow. Sometimes he breaks your heart or makes you long to hold your lover in your arms.
I am sorry to add a second spoiler. Perhaps this seems simple to those who peer inside themselves, but I have never been able to put words to this feeling until now:
“Sometimes being with the person you love most of all is the hardest thing in the world.”
Simple words, that nonetheless rang in my head long after I had read them. Strange Colours is a beautiful, often searing collection accessible to all, even those who do not normally appreciate poetry. If you love, also read.
May 26, 2020
There is no easy way to describe love, yet David does it poignantly and eloquently through this gorgeous collection of poems.
August 13, 2020
Strange Colours
Author: David Middleham
Publisher: KDP
Year: 2020
I saw that David was advertising his new book on Twitter and instantly the cover caught my eye with the vibrancy of colour like a multicoloured pot of paint. I was very intrigued by the subject of the colours of love in poetry.
David captures the beautiful story of love, heartache, and loss, a subject a lot of us have experienced at one point in our lives or maybe more. His poetry is easy to read and just rolls off the tongue in descriptive scenes of love, passion, and loss and the images just stay with you. I could read this book repeatedly to a point that I am going to order it in paperback too.
There are so many lovely pieces of poetry in this book but I am only going to quote one part from Aquamarine/Azure page 70:
"If I could tear out my heart, Place it among the stars, Make it to the moon, Spill out my love, To
become an ocean, My soul the shore, Would you dance barefoot on the sand?"
David is a British Poet currently living in Birmingham. This is his first collection of poetry. I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next. I highly recommend "Strange Colours" to anyone regardless if you are a poetry-lover or not.
Author: David Middleham
Publisher: KDP
Year: 2020
I saw that David was advertising his new book on Twitter and instantly the cover caught my eye with the vibrancy of colour like a multicoloured pot of paint. I was very intrigued by the subject of the colours of love in poetry.
David captures the beautiful story of love, heartache, and loss, a subject a lot of us have experienced at one point in our lives or maybe more. His poetry is easy to read and just rolls off the tongue in descriptive scenes of love, passion, and loss and the images just stay with you. I could read this book repeatedly to a point that I am going to order it in paperback too.
There are so many lovely pieces of poetry in this book but I am only going to quote one part from Aquamarine/Azure page 70:
"If I could tear out my heart, Place it among the stars, Make it to the moon, Spill out my love, To
become an ocean, My soul the shore, Would you dance barefoot on the sand?"
David is a British Poet currently living in Birmingham. This is his first collection of poetry. I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next. I highly recommend "Strange Colours" to anyone regardless if you are a poetry-lover or not.
January 21, 2021
If you’re a poetry lover, Strange Colours is a must have! Following David Middleham through his kaleidoscope and the corresponding poetry/emotions is an intense journey of love and passion. His words elicited a range of feelings within me, and I plan on picking up this book often to take the trip with him over and over.
Raw and unrelenting, be prepared to feel it all – joy, longing, loss, commitment – but each time Middleham pulls on your heartstrings, it will leave you wanting more. Give in to his depth, and he’ll give you a warm embrace.
This is the book you want when you’re wondering if anyone out there knows how you feel. In Midnight Blue/Violet, when he tells you, “I need you to want to suffer,” you’ll nod your head, agreeing to it every time.
I’m typically a classic poetry reader – Frost, Dickenson, a student of Dante, etc. – and I can’t stress how much I loved this book. By the time you’re done, you’ll go anywhere with David Middleham.
Raw and unrelenting, be prepared to feel it all – joy, longing, loss, commitment – but each time Middleham pulls on your heartstrings, it will leave you wanting more. Give in to his depth, and he’ll give you a warm embrace.
This is the book you want when you’re wondering if anyone out there knows how you feel. In Midnight Blue/Violet, when he tells you, “I need you to want to suffer,” you’ll nod your head, agreeing to it every time.
I’m typically a classic poetry reader – Frost, Dickenson, a student of Dante, etc. – and I can’t stress how much I loved this book. By the time you’re done, you’ll go anywhere with David Middleham.
April 1, 2021
A beautiful collection of poems that will speak to your heart and question your mind.
As a poetry fan I was looking for a new poetry book to sink my teeth into and reading Strange Colours, I was not left disappointed. Love poems are beautiful, however, I do usually find them too repetitive when back-to-back like this. David, however, makes the poetry collection itself almost like a love story, taking you from start to finish and through all the emotions attached to each stage of a relationship. Looking at love like the colour spectrum, David had me gripped, urging me through the poems, across the spectrum, to see where his love story would take me. His poems are beautiful and emotional, insightful and thought provoking, and so relatable and real. I can’t wait to read what he writes next. I’m just gutted I bought the kindle version and didn’t pay extra for the paperback, I’d love to proudly display this poetry collection on my bookcase.
As a poetry fan I was looking for a new poetry book to sink my teeth into and reading Strange Colours, I was not left disappointed. Love poems are beautiful, however, I do usually find them too repetitive when back-to-back like this. David, however, makes the poetry collection itself almost like a love story, taking you from start to finish and through all the emotions attached to each stage of a relationship. Looking at love like the colour spectrum, David had me gripped, urging me through the poems, across the spectrum, to see where his love story would take me. His poems are beautiful and emotional, insightful and thought provoking, and so relatable and real. I can’t wait to read what he writes next. I’m just gutted I bought the kindle version and didn’t pay extra for the paperback, I’d love to proudly display this poetry collection on my bookcase.
August 19, 2025
Not thinking, I never imagined that truth would land me in a vast desert behind an unscalable wall. They had to put me here so I could live. If the suffering and isolation were not enough, I unexpectedly saw a lush, verdant mirage in the distance. I could not stop from wanting to breathe his life into me, to drink – to gulp and gulp and swallow him down forever. I wanted to be inside his eternal eyes – his otherworldly wisdom. But then I blinked. In that fatal moment he disappeared into the ether. I hadn't had even nearly enough. I couldn't quell my gasping. So, I came here to have a drink. And to try to catch my breath.
November 14, 2020
Well..where to begin! This gorgeous collection of poetry hasn't so much tugged on my heartstrings, more like torn them asunder!
Vivid imagery, raw emotion, feelings of lost love that once were or might yet be; these poems may be small, but every single one delivers all three. I devoured the entire collection in less than an hour because of how moreish they were.
This collection made me want to crash headfirst into love whilst at the same time scaring me away from it forever!
A beautifully written collection of triumphs!
Vivid imagery, raw emotion, feelings of lost love that once were or might yet be; these poems may be small, but every single one delivers all three. I devoured the entire collection in less than an hour because of how moreish they were.
This collection made me want to crash headfirst into love whilst at the same time scaring me away from it forever!
A beautifully written collection of triumphs!
May 30, 2020
Middleham's collection of poems about love and life are enchanting. I felt like I had stepped into his mind and I felt every word.
Poetry is not my usual reading material, but this was a wonderful way to start.
Poetry is not my usual reading material, but this was a wonderful way to start.
June 7, 2020
I’m no expert on poetry. To me there’s simply the kind of poetry that “feels” and the kind of poetry that doesn’t no matter how well or beautifully written. To me David’s poetry “feels”which is why I love it so much and why I had to have it in paperback.
December 31, 2020
This is a wonderful collection of poems for those who appreciate short works that are loaded with meaning. When I read poems, I like to read them slowly and let the mood linger and roll around in my brain. I could feel the loaded emotion in every word in this collection. I felt a wide range of feelings when reading them, which is a sign of an excellent and skilled poet. Highly recommended!
November 14, 2020
The poems in this book are very powerful and well written. They really make you feel and think. And I’m not even a fan of poetry so it really takes skill to impress me, which this author clearly has.
November 15, 2021
This is a beautiful, raw, evocative, heartbreaking collection of poetry. David Middleham's writing is so elegant and eloquent, and I absolutely loved how he organised this collection into different colours. I'm so glad I came across this book on Twitter - I enjoyed it immensely.
October 25, 2025
As someone who doesn’t often read poetry, I was first drawn to Strange Colours by its striking title and cover – and I’m so glad I tried it. From the very first poem, I was completely absorbed. David Middleham has created something remarkable here: a collection that bleeds colour and emotion into every line, exploring love in all its forms – tender, tempestuous, and at times, devastating. What struck me most was the way each poem captures both the beauty and the ache that come with love. It reads like a love story told through fragments – each piece revealing a new shade of connection, loss, or longing. David Middleham’s voice feels raw and genuine, yet the craft behind each poem is unmistakable. Even as someone who rarely turns to poetry, I found this collection deeply moving and entirely accessible. The language is vivid and thoughtful without ever feeling distant or abstract. Strange Colours is a stunning exploration of what it means to love and to lose – and I can’t recommend it highly enough, even for those who might not usually read poetry.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews