Dunes of Cwm Rheidol

John Barnie's collection of poetry, "Dunes of Cwm Rheidol," walks the razor edge between grim reality and stoicism, taking us to a landscape overwhelmed with wreckage and grief. With imagery that is both exquisite and familiar, he explores the carnage wrought by human desire and offers a vision of hope. The poems are prophetic in the tradition of Robinson Jeffers and William Carlos Williams, conveying the collective grief for all that is lost and the brutalization of the quiet rural homeland. Barnie's words are heart-breaking and true, never for the faint-hearted.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 76 pages
Publication date: 20 September 2023
Publisher: Cinnamon Press

John Barnie, a master of words, walks the delicate line between the harsh realities of life and the stoic acceptance of it. Through vivid imagery and masterful language, he transports us to a world that is both beautiful and haunting, simultaneously filled with destruction and sorrow. In these urgent poems, he delves not only into the depths of time but also into the devastating consequences of human greed and desire.

As we gaze into the abyss of time, we are also confronted with the wreckage left behind by our pursuit of more and more. Barnie's words carry the collective grief for all that is lost, as there was no one to grieve for these losses. He walks beside them, taking on their pain and sorrow as his own.

In addition to the losses of culture and ecology, Barnie offers a glimmer of hope and vision. His poems are prophetic in the tradition of Robinson Jeffers, with the lyric compression of William Carlos Williams serving as an epigraph for the collection. Through his words, Barnie imagines his quiet rural homeland occupied and brutalized, a stark contrast to the idyllic scenes he describes earlier.

The central sequence, "Occupied," paints a haunting picture of a once-safe haven turned into a place of chaos and destruction. The safety net, once full of holes, is now so inadequate that it cannot even catch a whale. The poet knows that the days of iridescence, of beauty and wonder, are lost forever.

In "Iridescence," Barnie reflects on the loss of innocence and the fading of dreams. The world is incinerated, and there is no one to gather the heart's dust. The irony of the nursery rhyme metre used in this poem adds to the sense of horror and desolation.

Dunes of Cwm Rheidol is a testament to John Barnie's poetic prowess. It is a collection that is not for the faint-hearted, as it delves into the darkest corners of human experience. The poems are heart-breaking and true, reflecting the realities of life and the human condition.

Barnie's poetry is a call to action, a reminder of our responsibility to care for the world and each other. He challenges us to confront the harsh realities of our existence and to strive for a better future. Through his words, he inspires us to rise above our fears and to embrace the beauty and complexity of the world we inhabit.

In conclusion, John Barnie's poetry is a powerful exploration of the human experience. Through his words, he transports us to a world that is both beautiful and haunting, and he challenges us to confront the harsh realities of our existence. His poetry is a testament to the power of language and the ability of art to inspire and transform.

Weight: 114g
Dimension: 139 x 217 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788641456