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Voices
What if they could talk?
What if the objects that catch our eye as we wander down the aisles at the Trash and Treasure Market could tell their own stories?
Frank Prem has heard them.
Voices In The Trash is a conversation with objects and things that exist on another plane, but whose voices are as real as yours and mine.
Join Frank Prem on his listening journey through the Trash and Treasure Market.
Can you hear them speak?
What if the objects that catch our eye as we wander down the aisles at the Trash and Treasure Market could tell their own stories?
Frank Prem has heard them.
Voices In The Trash is a conversation with objects and things that exist on another plane, but whose voices are as real as yours and mine.
Join Frank Prem on his listening journey through the Trash and Treasure Market.
Can you hear them speak?
106 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2021
About the author
Frank Prem
64 books108 followersFrank Prem has been a storytelling poet for forty years. When not writing or reading his poetry to an audience, he fills his time by working as a psychiatric nurse.
He has been published in magazines, zines and anthologies, in Australia and in a number of other countries, and has both performed and recorded his work as ‘spoken word’.
He lives with his wife, in the beautiful township of Beechworth in northeast Victoria (Australia).
Franks web page is located at: www.FrankPrem.com.
YouTube video of Frank reading 'callignee butterflies', from Devil In The Wind.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 22, 2021
This slim volume of pictures and poetry packs a big bundle of wonderful into its pages. The photos come from Mill Markets, Daylesford, Victoria, Australia, an antique/thrift shop. The poetry comes from how certain pieces call out and speak to Frank as he browses.
The dedication page says: “that all our voices be heard”
He shows with creative sparking an underlying message for comrades and castaways: all are worthy; they simply need to be seen in the right light or heard with the right ear.
Frank begins with the clamor of wide shots, a whole of gathered potential that sits and waits. It's easy to get lost in the chaos of it. As the camera narrows to individual items, each proclaims its uniqueness by what it has to say. Some revel in the joy of community. Some hint of the mysteries they hold within. Some flaunt their excesses. Others draw us in with an unnameable allure. Some are damaged by hardship. Others hum with resonance. Some keen with need for things long remembered or ever yearned for. Strange pragmatic machines cry out for a little oil and a lot of patience. Groupings nod inclusion or rumble exclusion. Secrets, shapes, and substances dance with whimsy among the array. Others examine choices, the need to search, the satisfaction of finding, and an acknowledgment of excess or dearth.
The dedication page says: “that all our voices be heard”
He shows with creative sparking an underlying message for comrades and castaways: all are worthy; they simply need to be seen in the right light or heard with the right ear.
Frank begins with the clamor of wide shots, a whole of gathered potential that sits and waits. It's easy to get lost in the chaos of it. As the camera narrows to individual items, each proclaims its uniqueness by what it has to say. Some revel in the joy of community. Some hint of the mysteries they hold within. Some flaunt their excesses. Others draw us in with an unnameable allure. Some are damaged by hardship. Others hum with resonance. Some keen with need for things long remembered or ever yearned for. Strange pragmatic machines cry out for a little oil and a lot of patience. Groupings nod inclusion or rumble exclusion. Secrets, shapes, and substances dance with whimsy among the array. Others examine choices, the need to search, the satisfaction of finding, and an acknowledgment of excess or dearth.
August 5, 2021
This is a unique picture book featuring photographs the poet has collected from various trash and treasure markets around Australia. Each photograph depicts an unusual item that would be a treasure in the rights hands. These items include inter alia books, a selection of peacock features displayed in a pot, naked ceramic gnomes suspended on wires from the ceiling, a variety of globes of the world, a fortune telling glass fortune telling ball, plastic fruit, wooden vegetables and a selection of paint brushes. Each picture has inspired one of the authors exceptional poems which tell as story about the object.
This is not a book for children but is a collection that will inspire adults, making them see disregarded objects differently and smile at the memories they invoke. Some of the poems are sad, for example the voice of a stuffed toy monkey that is homeless and loveless. Some are reflective such as famous, a strange metal creation reminiscent of a face, maybe CP30. Is that the fame this article thinks about all day? And some are hopeful, like the dress model who is hoping for a last dance.
A fascinating collection that will appeal to lovers of unusual and thought provoking poetry.
This is not a book for children but is a collection that will inspire adults, making them see disregarded objects differently and smile at the memories they invoke. Some of the poems are sad, for example the voice of a stuffed toy monkey that is homeless and loveless. Some are reflective such as famous, a strange metal creation reminiscent of a face, maybe CP30. Is that the fame this article thinks about all day? And some are hopeful, like the dress model who is hoping for a last dance.
A fascinating collection that will appeal to lovers of unusual and thought provoking poetry.
July 17, 2021
What can I say about Frank Prem’s picture poetry book, Voices (in the trash)? I remember reading an early review of the book from a flummoxed Amazon reader whose review basically posed the question, what is this thing? I don’t know what to make of it; maybe another reader can figure this book out.
Voices (in the trash) is just what the cover says it is: a picture poetry book. Each poem is paired with a photograph of a single object or a group of objects taken in a secondhand shop. However, it’s not ekphrastic poetry (inspired by an image and able to stand on its own without the image). Nor is it illustrated poetry (a poem accompanied by a related image). No, each poem in the collection comes from the image itself.
As I have been reading more poetry over the last few years, I’ve come to appreciate and admire a poet who is fearless, who takes risks, who is not afraid to experiment with form and subject matter. Frank Prem is such a poet.
As with all good poetry, Voices (in the trash) is a re-creation of human experience--in this case, an experience I’ve had myself--but rendered in such a way that I finally understand what my own experience meant.
Only after reading the book and reflecting on it could I say, so that’s what was happening, that’s why I felt the way I felt all those times I walked through the Ghent Emporium with its random bric-a-brac, moldy best-sellers, faded oil paintings, lumpy refinished furniture, and rusted egg beaters. Every single object had once meant something to someone, been a part of their lives. Who will speak for these lives now, but voices in the trash?
Voices (in the trash) is just what the cover says it is: a picture poetry book. Each poem is paired with a photograph of a single object or a group of objects taken in a secondhand shop. However, it’s not ekphrastic poetry (inspired by an image and able to stand on its own without the image). Nor is it illustrated poetry (a poem accompanied by a related image). No, each poem in the collection comes from the image itself.
As I have been reading more poetry over the last few years, I’ve come to appreciate and admire a poet who is fearless, who takes risks, who is not afraid to experiment with form and subject matter. Frank Prem is such a poet.
As with all good poetry, Voices (in the trash) is a re-creation of human experience--in this case, an experience I’ve had myself--but rendered in such a way that I finally understand what my own experience meant.
Only after reading the book and reflecting on it could I say, so that’s what was happening, that’s why I felt the way I felt all those times I walked through the Ghent Emporium with its random bric-a-brac, moldy best-sellers, faded oil paintings, lumpy refinished furniture, and rusted egg beaters. Every single object had once meant something to someone, been a part of their lives. Who will speak for these lives now, but voices in the trash?
March 20, 2021
A beautiful and wistful wander through the stalls and stands of yesteryear, of memories and smiles, of little secrets and silly moments.
I feel my fingers slide across the purple of the dress attached to the dance card, feel myself drawn to the 20s, to the mystique of the dusty halls, the underlit walls, the tapping of delicate toes on timber boards.
Ah, the memories, the history, all held within the breaths of this traipse through time.
I loved every moment of the journey, and I recommend reading it on a larger screen to get the best effect.
I feel my fingers slide across the purple of the dress attached to the dance card, feel myself drawn to the 20s, to the mystique of the dusty halls, the underlit walls, the tapping of delicate toes on timber boards.
Ah, the memories, the history, all held within the breaths of this traipse through time.
I loved every moment of the journey, and I recommend reading it on a larger screen to get the best effect.
June 10, 2021
Visit my blog to see all my reviews: https://mjmallon.com/2021/06/10/book-...
Thank you to the author for a copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
I absolutely love this collection. So imaginative to photograph images from a second hand shop and write poetry about them! The objects Frank Prem finds are so unusual.
Here are some of my favourites in the collection:
Ain't nothing - half naked gnomes suspended from the ceiling.
Too much - a mask face! so funny. My Dance card. Manby - then it changed - sad and so true. Liked - about a stuffed toy. Chill Factor - about a glass head. What remains has a sadness to it and refers to a naked discarded doll. We do not/You do not. Who Knew is imaginative and funny.
Who the poem about the discarded things that look like Dr Who Dalaks. Two fruit themes: Your Friend, and The Hot Chili Brothers Band. Such a cute one about paintbrushes: the one. Reminiscent of childhood: at me I'm flying. For Cinderella fans with a twist : where the (cinder)- ell-a you. wisdom (1) and wisdom (2) wisdom (3) ethnic figure heads about light and dark. And what adornment for you.
Such an eclectic and quirky book! Highly recommended.
June 2, 2021
Frank Prem lends his photographic talent to this picture poetry book by featuring photographs from the trash and treasure markets from around Australia. The author asks us, “What if these items could talk?”
What follows is a unique poetic perspective as he listens to the plaintive voices in the trash. He pens his poetry accordingly. All objects are worthy of a voice, in his eyes.
This was a lovely and creative endeavor. If you’re looking for something different to read and inspire, this is the book for you.
What follows is a unique poetic perspective as he listens to the plaintive voices in the trash. He pens his poetry accordingly. All objects are worthy of a voice, in his eyes.
This was a lovely and creative endeavor. If you’re looking for something different to read and inspire, this is the book for you.
September 19, 2021
The author uses poignant images to tell his stories of his unusual and thought provoking perception of, if the photo could speak. Simplest of objects such as plastic fruit, paint brushes, mannequins, peacock feathers, clocks, globes, – catch the author’s imagination and inspire his creative poetry around his vision.
Prem shares his vision with us and at the same time offers us, the reader, to both, look through the author’s eyes, as well as using our own intuitive impressions and translations.
A crystal ball – tomorrow will be clear
All right (basket case) – baskets strewn up a stand ‘we have to hang out together”
I – the recorder – the clock is master of time
What remains – compelling thoughts on history
Frank Prem is known for his out of the box creative poetry.. If you enjoy poetry, and are open to new forms and presentation of some telling poetry, you’ll want to read this book.
Prem shares his vision with us and at the same time offers us, the reader, to both, look through the author’s eyes, as well as using our own intuitive impressions and translations.
A crystal ball – tomorrow will be clear
All right (basket case) – baskets strewn up a stand ‘we have to hang out together”
I – the recorder – the clock is master of time
What remains – compelling thoughts on history
Frank Prem is known for his out of the box creative poetry.. If you enjoy poetry, and are open to new forms and presentation of some telling poetry, you’ll want to read this book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews