Aliquot

A chemist with a sample analyzes an aliquot of that sample,a part of a part of a larger whole. John Clegg's new collection, "Aliquot," explores the sense of being part of larger wholes, themselves part of a larger whole, using scientific knowledge and diction. The poems are organized in a series of -ines, such as A Gene Sequence, which take us from Codon to Coda. The book is storm-spooked and jumpy, haunted by jaguars and lynxes, but also has moments of calm arising out of parenthood. The poems are aliquots of a realized, restive, and unique individual world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 72 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2022
Publisher: Carcanet Press Ltd

The chemist, armed with a sample, delves into an aliquot of that sample, a fragment of a fragment of a greater whole. John Clegg's latest collection aptly captures the essence of the poems, where they exist as parts of larger wholes, themselves part of even larger universes. The interplay of scientific knowledge and traditional diction in these poems is intertwined with worlds of reference where sequencing holds immense significance and reveals profound truths. Take, for instance, the series of poems titled "A Gene Sequence," which navigates us from Codon to Coda, traversing various amino acids like Glycine, Asparagine, and Tyrosine. This intricate exercise emerges from the influence of George Herbert's poignant question, "What though my body run to dust?" and the administrative responsibilities he undertook at a genomics conference. Here, the language spoken, the terms employed, seamlessly integrate into the organizing imagination and prosody of a formidable and witty verse craftsman, addressing serious contemporary concerns.

In his second Carcanet book, "Aliquot," John Clegg embarks on a journey marked by a sense of unease and trepidation. Haunted by jaguars and lynxes, the book is interspersed with uneasy silences punctuated by the sharp retort of punt guns, the thunderous strikes of lightning, and the devastating floodwater breaching defensive barriers. Amidst this foreboding atmosphere, moments of calm emerge, particularly arising from the sheer joy and raucous peace experienced in the realm of parenthood. These poems themselves constitute aliquots, capturing the essence of a realized, restless, and distinct individual world.

Weight: 106g
Dimension: 134 x 216 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800172357