Rock, Paper, Scissors

Richard Osmond's second collection, Rock, Paper, Scissors, is a powerful response to the 2017 terrorist attack in London. It combines original poems with translated excerpts from the Quran and Beowulf, exploring the complexities of traumatic experience and the challenges of interpretation. The book is praised for its boldness and importance.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 72 pages
Publication date: 13 June 2019
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Richard Osmond's debut collection, Useful Verses, has been awarded the prestigious Seamus Heaney Prize. The collection showcases Osmond's exceptional talent and poetic prowess, receiving widespread acclaim for its insightful and thought-provoking verses.

In his second collection, Rock, Paper, Scissors, Osmond takes a daring and innovative approach to poetry. Responding directly to the tragic terrorist attack in London on June 3rd, 2017, the collection weaves together a tapestry of emotions, reflections, and observations. Through a unique collage technique, Osmond skillfully combines his personal experiences with translated excerpts from two contrasting texts: the Quran and the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf.

Osmond's translations from the Quran offer a fresh perspective on the text, challenging the prevalent notion that it is a monolithic book filled with judgment and prohibitions. Instead, he highlights the Quran's vivid lyricism and the enigmatic nature of its philosophy. The excerpts from Beowulf, on the other hand, provide a haunting echo of contemporary issues and societal concerns.

Rock, Paper, Scissors takes a profound and thought-provoking look at the complexities of interpretation and the challenges of understanding events. Osmond refuses to simplify some of the most pressing questions of our time, instead opting to present them in their intricate and nuanced entirety. The result is a book of compelling importance, one that demands attention and contemplation from readers.

Praise for Useful Verses has been pouring in, with critics and readers alike lauding Osmond's exceptional talent and poetic vision. Edna Longley, in her review for The Irish Times, describes the collection as "a wonderfully original collection, which relishes and renews everything that poetry can do with language."

Richard Osmond's journey as a poet is marked by his commitment to exploring the depths of human experience and his willingness to challenge conventional notions of what poetry can achieve. With Rock, Paper, Scissors, he has once again demonstrated his ability to create powerful and thought-provoking works that resonate with readers on a profound level.

Weight: 132g
Dimension: 194 x 179 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509894581