The Built Moment

Lavinia Greenlaw's latest collection, The Built Moment, explores the construction of beginnings, endings, arrivals, and departures, as well as the moments we fix as memories, capturing the joy and pain of these experiences. The first section, "The Sea is an Edge and an Ending," explores her father's dementia and disappearance into the present tense, while the second section, "The Bluebell Horizontal," looks towards possibility and offers new frameworks in the face of loss. The collection demonstrates how, as we age, what we build and break becomes more significant, highlighting the complexities of memory and the enduring power of poetry.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 64 pages
Publication date: 21 April 2022
Publisher: Faber & Faber

Lavinia Greenlaw's latest collection, The Casual Perfect (2011), delves into the pursuit of the provisional. The Built Moment explores the essence of what we construct from the provisional: beginnings, endings, arrivals, and departures, as well as the moments we capture as memories, imbuing them with both joy and pain. The first section, titled "The Sea is an Edge and an Ending," consists of a series of poems that explore her father's dementia and his transition into the present tense. Rather than focusing on the narrative of illness, it delves into the metaphysics of memory and loss. It poses the profound question: What does it mean to exist solely in the present, where one's sense of self becomes loose, and the past floats freely? The second section, titled "The Bluebell Horizontal," embraces possibility and offers fresh frameworks in the face of loss. It includes a prayer, a blessing, and a contemplation on why we persist in clinging to pain. Within this section, there are structures that hinder both remembering and forgetting, as well as the fundamental challenge a poet faces when grappling with words.

The Built Moment showcases the profound significance of what we build and break as we age and death becomes an ever-present aspect of life. It reminds us that the choices we make and the structures we construct can shape our experiences and impact our lives. Greenlaw's collection offers a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition, challenging us to reflect on the transient nature of existence and the importance of cherishing the moments that matter most. Through her poetic language and insightful observations, she invites us to embrace the provisional and build something meaningful and lasting in the face of uncertainty and change.

Weight: 90g
Dimension: 198 x 131 x 6 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780571347117
Edition number: Main