Portable Paradise

Roger Robinson's poetry encompasses a wide range of themes, from family life to observations of urban violence, memories of Trinidad, and reflections on art and ideology. It expresses a fierce anger against injustice while also celebrating the human spirit's humor, oddity, and generosity.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 144 pages
\n Publication date: 08 July 2019
\n Publisher: Peepal Tree Press Ltd
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Roger Robinson's poetic range is vast, encompassing the joys and complexities of family life, as well as poignant observations on the simmering tensions beneath the surface of Black British communities in London. His memories of his native Trinidad and his visits there serve as a mirror, revealing both his personal growth and the transformative changes that have taken place in his homeland. Through emblematic poems that celebrate the beauty and often peculiar quirks of the animal world, Robinson offers quizzical responses to the strange, heartening, and appalling incidents encountered in everyday life. He also delves into profound reflections on the purposes and costs of artistic creation, exploring themes such as the influence of George Stubbs's paintings, the juxtaposition of cocaine and Coltrane's music, and the ideologies of Toni Morrison and John Milton.

The poems in A Portable Paradise exude a fierce anger against injustice, yet they also convey a profound sense of Roger Robinson's unwavering love for humanity. His verse possesses a remarkable ability to be both the voice of our collective consciousness and a subversive force that challenges and enchants. Afua Hirsch, in her review of the book, aptly describes Robinson as "the voice of our communal consciousness, while at the same time always subverting, playing, and beguiling with his beautiful verse."

Through his poetic lens, Robinson invites us to explore the intricacies of human experience, to confront the darker aspects of society, and to celebrate the resilience and beauty of the human spirit. A Portable Paradise is a testament to Robinson's talent as a poet and his ability to connect with readers on a profound emotional level.

\n Weight: 110g\n
Dimension: 138 x 207 x 8 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781845234331\n \n