Love Letter to an Imaginary Girlfriend

Kenny Knight's poetry is known for its lyrical verve, wit, and tenderness, focusing on lived experiences and human exchanges. It encompasses a world of vivid childhood memories, rock n roll youth, and intoxicating discoveries, spanning three thousand miles of soggy paper. The poem is a dialogue with a multitude of personae, including Eric Dolphy, Geoffrey Hill, Buddy Holly, Cy Twombly, Van Gogh, Ornette Coleman, Pink Floyd, Matisse, and Don McClean, reflecting the poet's awareness of time passing and engagement with others.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 102 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: Shearsman Books

Kenny Knight's poetry is renowned for its lyrical verve, wit, and tenderness, showcasing a unique blend of lived experiences and a magpie poetics. Unlike many other poets in the House of Poesy, he avoids self-important theorizing and instead focuses on capturing the essence of human experiences. This approach does not imply a disregard for artifice, but rather a different kind of necessity in poetry.

In "Love Letter to an Imaginary Girlfriend," Knight's artistry is deeply embedded in the exchanges of human voices, adorned with a magpie poetics that adds a touch of magic to the narrative. The poem spans three thousand miles, beginning in Honicknowle and ending on Olson's doorstep in Massachusetts. It is a journey that unfolds through the soggy pages of the paper, transporting the reader along with a giraffe driving a steam roller. Along the way, the poet pauses to observe the passing shadows of a crow and a swan, symbolizing the fleeting nature of time.

The poem is a celebration of life, encompassing vivid childhood memories, the exhilaration of rock 'n' roll youth, and the intoxicating discoveries that shape one's journey. It is a world filled with possibility, where the bright prospect of the future coexists with the nostalgia of the past. Knight's poetry reaches out across three thousand miles of soggy paper, creating a poem that begins in Honicknowle and ends on Olson's doorstep in Massachusetts.

This ambitious journey requires the sea-soaked paper to hold out long enough to bring the reader to its destination. The poem employs vivid imagery and metaphorical language to transport the reader through time and space. The giraffe, driving a steam roller, serves as a metaphor for the unstoppable force of progress, while the zebra crossing outside the greengrocer's at West Park represents the crossroads of life.

Furthermore, "Love Letter to an Imaginary Girlfriend" is a poetry of a particular type of flaneur, one who is aware of the passing of time and engaged in a dialogue with a multitude of personae. The poet in Plymouth encounters a diverse range of characters, including Eric Dolphy, an undercover cop; Geoffrey Hill, a poet; Buddy Holly, a rock 'n' roll legend; Cy Twombly, an artist; Van Gogh, a painter; Ornette Coleman, a musician; Pink Floyd, a band; Matisse, a sculptor; and Don McClean, a singer-songwriter. These encounters serve as a testament to the poet's wide-ranging interests and his ability to connect with people from different walks of life.

In conclusion, Kenny Knight's "Love Letter to an Imaginary Girlfriend" is a remarkable work of poetry that showcases his unique style and artistic vision. Through its lyrical verve, wit, and tenderness, the poem captures the essence of human experiences, offering a glimpse into the world of vivid childhood memories, rock 'n' roll youth, and intoxicating discoveries. Knight's artistry is deeply embedded in the exchanges of human voices, adorned with a magpie poetics that adds a touch of magic to the narrative. The poem's ambitious journey spans three thousand miles, taking the reader through time and space, and engaging in a dialogue with a multitude of personae. It is a testament to the poet's ability to connect with people from different walks of life and his commitment to capturing the beauty of the world around him.

Weight: 148g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781848618145