A thought-provoking collection of highly original poems, encompassing the intellectual, the contemplative, the weird, and the macabre. Explore visions of dank, creeping natural forces and dark, abstract reflections on urban life. Join the poet on a surreal journey through maturity and experience, depicting our human condition through an intimate and intense landscape of vivid expressionist imagery, conceived by a poet who is also an artist. The poems are often accompanied by illustrations (also by the author), which provide a symbolic narrative complementary to the text. Explored also are the historical, linguistic and cultural upheavals of the author’s locality, North Wales, conveyed through reflections on changes in the natural and urban environment.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Foibles, Frolics and Phantasms: poems to inspire and delight,
By Ruth Rikowski (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Foibles, Frolics and Phantasms: Illustrated Poems (1995- 2005) by Paul Catherall (Paperback)
Foibles, Frolics and Phantasms: Illustrated poems (1995-2005)
by Paul Catherall PublishAmerica, 2006 ISBN 1 4241 1399 7 This is a wonderful, moving book, which takes us to a world far beyond our every day existence. It contains a variety of poems, all written by Paul Catherall from North Wales, who by day works as an information professional in higher education. The poems have been written over a 10-year period. There are also many illustrations throughout it, also all by the poet, and this includes the captivating cover itself. A unifying theme that runs through them though, I think, is the way in which the poet compares urban life with nature and rural life. The poet has been inspired by poets such as Sylvia Plath, Francis Berry and Al Alvarez. The book contains different types of poems. There are `Haiku-style poems' for example, which are: "...a traditional Japanese verse form often conveying wisdom or an allegorical story within a short length." (Catherall, p.66) I did not know that so much could be said in 3 lines! Then there are `Englynion-style poems', which are an ancient Welsh verse-form. I was also particularly moved by the poem `Tendon' (p.45), which is about Repetitive Strain Injury. Catherall describes how the tendon in his hand first incurred his woes, but now he feels sorry for it. He points out the fact that he must be patient. The troll in `Cave' conveys something to us, I think, about greed. The final section is entitled "Excerpts from `The Legends of Ossian' ". `The Legends of Ossian' is a novel in progress by Paul Catherall, which is set in a fictional Dark Age British kingdom, called Beltain. Catherall thinks that poetry is sadly in decline. Yet, surely the arts always struggle to survive in capitalism - money cannot easily be made from the arts, and the arts cannot readily be transformed into saleable, tradable commodities. Indeed, it is fascinating to realise the extent to which the genius Mozart himself seemed to feel this. In a letter that Mozart wrote to an Italian friend on 4th September 1776, he said: "Most beloved and esteemed signor, I beg you to tell me what you think of my most humble music. We live in a world where the arts should be encouraged so that we may enlighten one another. But in the country where I live music must struggle even to exist." (Mozart, 1776) Hopefully, Catherall's book will inspire others to think further about the value and beauty of poetry, as well as the value of the arts more in general. Also, that it will encourage and inspire others to read and write more poetry themselves. Reviewed by Ruth Rikowski, London South Bank University London, 12th May 2006
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