No Place Like Home: Poems

Home is a place of refuge, a place where we can be ourselves, and a place we long to escape from. It is where we do most of our living, and it is many things to many poets. It may be somewhere we long for, perhaps unattainably, and it is full of domestic life. After a year of enforced domesticity, some lockdown thoughts and reflections on the idea of a dwelling place from Rumi, Emily Dickinson, John Burnside, Vinita Agrawal, Derek Walcott, Les Murray, and Iman Mersal.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 20 January 2022
Publisher: Everyman

Home is a complex and multifaceted concept that holds different meanings for different individuals. For some, it is a place of refuge, a sanctuary where they can be themselves without fear of judgment or rejection. It is a place they long to escape from the pressures and distractions of the outside world, seeking solace and tranquility in the familiar surroundings of their own home. However, home can also be a source of confrontation, a place where absence and loneliness loom large. It may be a shabby downtown apartment or an idyllic country cottage, but regardless of its physical appearance, it is where we spend the majority of our lives.

Home is a subject that has inspired countless poets throughout history. It is a favorite armchair of Billy Collins, a living space in the slums of Mumbai for Imtiaz Dharker, a dear valley of Grasmere for Wordsworth, and a Coventry for Philip Larkin. It is a place that holds a special place in our hearts, whether we long for it or are unable to attain it. Ovid and Mahmoud Darwish lament their home countries, Kapka Kassabova seeks a house that we can never find, while Jules Supervielle is homesick for the Earth.

Domestic life is abundant, and there is much to observe and experience within the confines of our homes. We can witness miserable breakfasts chez Jacques Prévert, observe happy couples being boring, and delve into the daily routines of individuals such as Anna Barbauld, Marilyn Nelson, Buson, Fiona Wright, Amy Lowell, John Donne, Auden, Joy Harjo, and many others. Homes are not always sweet, but they are undeniably unique and special places that hold a special place in our hearts.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns have forced many of us to spend extended periods of time at home. This has led to a range of thoughts and reflections on the idea of home. Some have experienced a sense of isolation and loneliness, while others have found solace and connection in the familiar surroundings of their homes. Mary Oliver's dream house, Naomi Shihab Nye's homes where children live, the far-from-safe houses of U. A. Fanthorpe, and final reflections on the idea of a dwelling place from Rumi, Emily Dickinson, John Burnside, Vinita Agrawal, Derek Walcott, Les Murray, and Iman Mersal are just a few examples of the diverse perspectives on home that have emerged during this time.

Despite the challenges and difficulties that come with living at home, there is no place like home. It is a place that holds our memories, our emotions, and our sense of identity. It is a place that provides us with a sense of comfort and security, a place where we can be ourselves and let our true selves shine. Whether we live in a shabby downtown apartment or an idyllic country cottage, home is a place that will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Weight: 256g
Dimension: 114 x 164 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781841598253