Please Don't Bomb the Ghost of My Brother

Julian Stannard is the poet of cabaret, known for his new collection "Please Dont Bomb the Ghost of my Brother", which is international in scope and relentlessly ludic, engaging with the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and personal loss. His poems sing and weep in equal measure, offering a feast of stories and a special type of humor.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2023
Publisher: Salt Publishing

Julian Stannard has been described as the poet of cabaret. His poems sing and weep in equal measure; a poetry of wretchedness and hilarity,of discombobulation and the bizarre. In his new collection a dead brother returns on a white horse,a musical stag slips off to New York,the Kray Twins reappear,a summer pudding is carried across a heath,a pair of buttocks escapes their owner,a couple makes love on a rain-soaked stoop,the Mongols catapult concubines over the parapets,a dead friend walks out of his grave like a twenty-first century Lazarus,a blind boy breaks into the Kelvingrove Gallery and makes off with Salvador Dalis crucifixion,Ezra Pound – half fish,half man – rises to the surface of the Venetian lagoon,and after ten years in the Cicada Lunatic Asylum the narrator finds peace in the Umbrian town of Bastardo.

Please Dont Bomb the Ghost of my Brother is international in scope and relentlessly ludic. The poems engage with the Covid pandemic,the war in Ukraine and personal loss. Stannards poems sing and weep in equal measure: a poetry of wretchedness and hilarity,of discombobulation and the bizarre,mindful of lacerating loss and the redemptive power of strangeness,a special type of humour. They supply a feast of stories.

Julian Stannard has been hailed as the poet of cabaret, renowned for his ability to blend wretchedness and hilarity, discombobulation and the bizarre, creating a unique form of poetry. His latest collection, titled "Please Don't Bomb the Ghost of my Brother," showcases a diverse range of themes and narratives. In this collection, a dead brother returns on a white horse, a musical stag heads to New York, the Kray Twins resurface, a summer pudding is carried across a heath, a pair of buttocks escapes their owner, a couple engages in passionate love on a rain-soaked stoop, the Mongols catapult concubines over the parapets, a dead friend emerges from his grave like a modern-day Lazarus, a blind boy breaks into the Kelvingrove Gallery and steals Salvador Dalí's crucifixion, Ezra Pound, half fish, half man, rises to the surface of the Venetian lagoon, and after ten years in the Cicada Lunatic Asylum, the narrator finds solace in the Umbrian town of Bastardo.

Stannard's poetry is characterized by its ability to evoke both laughter and tears, often within the same verse. It explores the complexities of human emotions, from the depths of despair to the heights of joy, and everything in between. His poems are filled with vivid imagery and sensory details, transporting readers to different worlds and experiences. Whether it's the sight of a dead brother riding a white horse, the sound of a musical stag slipping away to New York, or the sensation of a summer pudding being carried across a heath, Stannard's poetry brings the ordinary to life in extraordinary ways.

In "Please Don't Bomb the Ghost of my Brother," Stannard delves into a wide range of subjects, from the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the ongoing war in Ukraine. His poems reflect the personal toll of these events, as well as the resilience and hope that emerge in the face of adversity. Through his unique perspective, Stannard offers a message of empathy and understanding, urging readers to look beyond their differences and come together in times of crisis.

One of the most striking features of Stannard's poetry is its playful and irreverent tone. He is not afraid to take risks and push the boundaries of language and form. His poems are filled with humor, irony, and unexpected turns, keeping readers engaged and entertained throughout. Whether it's the absurdity of the Kray Twins reappearing or the surrealistic image of a summer pudding being carried across a heath, Stannard's poetry challenges our perceptions and encourages us to think outside the box.

In conclusion, Julian Stannard's "Please Don't Bomb the Ghost of my Brother" is a remarkable collection of poetry that showcases his talent for blending wretchedness and hilarity, discombobulation and the bizarre. Through his unique perspective and playful tone, Stannard offers a feast of stories and insights, engaging with a wide range of themes and narratives. His poetry is a testament to the power of language and the ability of art to transcend boundaries and connect with readers on a deep emotional level.

Weight: 118g
Dimension: 128 x 197 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781784633066