Love Language

In his follow-up to SKY WRITE NGS, Nasser Hussain tackles the absurdity of the English language by playing with everyday texts to talk about love, think about poems, call out racism, and remind us that words can be fun. These poems take play seriously and allow seriousness to enter the room disguised as incantation, taking us to the lyrics' ancient roots. Hussain's humour is never complacent, wryly sidesteps the bad binary of conservative withdrawal as set against algorithm-envenomed hyperassertion, and puts into words a new masculinity maturer than we deserve.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 26 October 2023
Publisher: Coach House Books

In his highly anticipated follow-up to SKY WRITEINGS, Canadian poet Nasser Hussain delves into the absurdity of the English language. The term "Love Language" can be interpreted in various ways, such as an imperative, a sign-off to a letter, or a modern expression of relationship styles. None of these interpretations would be incorrect in this captivating book. Love Language wholeheartedly embraces language, presenting a collection of poems that mesmerize and repeat as English becomes increasingly nonsensical. Hussain skillfully and playfully manipulates everyday texts, ranging from Apple's terms and conditions to other poets' love poems, performance reports, and pop songs, to explore themes of love, poetry, racism, and the power of words. These playful poems invite readers to fall in love with language all over again, reminding us that words can be both fun and meaningful.

According to Nasser Hussain, time can be likened to a lantern, illuminating the path to the origins of lyrics. These unique poems take play seriously while allowing seriousness to enter the room disguised as incantation. They strive to dismiss the recent facade of polite propriety and take us back to the ancient roots of lyrics, where a cave person made a grunt to speak the name of a thing. This is the fundamental pact between lyrics and the world: to transform playful language into the seriousness of giving things their rightful names. Hussain possesses a deep understanding of this, and his poetry is a testament to his talent.

One of the remarkable qualities of Hussain's writing is his unwavering humor. It is far from a complacent defense mechanism or a wry sidestep from the binary of conservative withdrawal versus algorithm-envenomed hyperassertion. Instead, his humor is wryly intelligent, offering fresh perspectives and nuanced insights. He articulates a new way of seeing the world, one that challenges our preconceived notions and encourages us to embrace the complexities of human experience.

In conclusion, Love Language is a must-read for anyone who appreciates poetry and the power of language. Nasser Hussain's exceptional talent and playful approach to poetry make this collection a delight to explore. Through his words, he invites readers to fall in love with language, to contemplate the complexities of love, poetry, and society, and to recognize the profound impact that words can have on our lives.

Dimension: 203 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781552454718