Collected Poems

Ian McDonald's collection looks into the heart of time passing, including the coming death of aging parents, old men, the sight of one's own lines of age, and the loss of pleasure in the glittering carnival of the senses. It also includes poems of moving domestic intimacy and humor, valedictory requiems for the characters who have given Georgetown life its flavor, and songs in praise of nature.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 23 August 2018
Publisher: Peepal Tree Press Ltd

Ian McDonald's collection, written from the vantage point of later middle life, delves into the profound essence of time's passage. It explores the impending death of aging parents, the old men who have witnessed the passage of time, the gradual emergence of one's own lines of age, and the diminishing pleasure found in the dazzling carnival of the senses. While there are indeed joys in the unexpected arrival of a new child at this stage of life, they are heightened by the undeniable sense of ephemerality. The poems in the collection capture the essence of moving domestic intimacy and humor, such as "To alarm their fathers half to death/New-born babies hold their breath." They also serve as valedictory requiems for the characters who have contributed to the unique character of Georgetown, lamenting the loss of civility in the country during its darkest recent years. Additionally, the collection includes songs that celebrate nature, offering a vision that looks into the darkness but insists on the presence of beauty. The star-tree blossoms in the night, a symbol of the transient nature of life, serves as a reminder that even in the midst of darkness, there is a glimmer of hope and the promise of a new day.

Weight: 520g
Dimension: 137 x 206 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781845234034