Posted on by mark

Book of the Week #6: Sarah Thomson’s ‘Before it’s too late’

Like Nigel Kent, a few weeks ago, I am so proud to have been able to publish a variety of Sarah Thomson’s work, starting with two poetry conversations with Nigel that, for me, dictated the form of what has become one of my favourite things that we do at Hedgehog, and culminating – so far – in her beautiful collection, ‘Before it’s too late’ which I am happy to re-introduce to you today.

Because Sarah is a special writer with an incisive insight married to a wonderful musicality that is so rare these days. Her forthcoming collection, due later this year is epic and unique, and as with that, ‘Before it’s too late’  makes the grind of running a wee poetry press, all worthwhile.

You can buy a Signed copy from Sarah by contacting her on Twitter HERE

This eclectic collection of poetry explores the fragility and impermanence of all that is precious in this world – ourselves, our loved ones, our homes, our familiar places, our countries and more generally life on planet earth and beyond.

Considers the challenge of achieving a balance between holding onto and honouring the past and letting it go to enable us to live well in the present and value what we have in the here and now.

Acknowledges the need to endure struggles, accept our mortality and embrace both endings and new beginnings with hope.

All expressed in a variety of forms – Villanelle, Fibonacci, Pantoums, Triolets, Concrete, Specular and free verse.

About Sarah Thomson

Sarah grew up by the sea in Weymouth, Dorset and now lives in Bristol. She developed a love for writing from an early age and her studies included English at the University of Exeter. After a varied career in publishing, accountancy and Human Resources, Sarah is now a full-time writer of poetry, novels and lyrics. In 2017 she was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize and a winner of the Persimmon International Poets Competition. Her poem ‘Mercy’ was highly commended by The Hedgehog Poetry Press and published in The Road to Clevedon Pier in 2018. The Hedgehog Poetry Press also published ‘A Hostile Environment’, her poetry conversation with Nigel Kent, in the same year and a second conversation ‘Thinking you Home’ in 2019.

Product details

  • Paperback : 28 pages
  • ISBN-10 : 1913499022
  • Product Dimensions : 14.81 x 0.18 x 21.01 cm
  • ISBN-13 : 978-1913499020
  • To get in touch with Sarah and order Signed Copies of her work, message her on Twitter – @SarahPThomson

‘Sarah Thomson’s Before it’s too late captures the contradictory nature of humanity. We are deeply flawed: we destroy the planet, we make war, and we often don’t appreciate what is valuable until it’s too late. Yet we’re also capable of selfless, enduring love. Her gentle and moving poems show us that it’s these connections with others that give life its meaning and make it fulfilling. Thomson’s chapbook leaves us with a challenge: like the two shadows in her ‘At the cinema’ we can sit and watch life pass us by, or, as she exhorts Ellen to do in the book’s final poem, we can ‘live life with love.’ Nigel Kent, poet

Individual feedback for ‘Lament of a Sperm Whale’ from Isabelle Kenyon, Fly on the Wall Press ‘We particularly enjoyed the use of language which really delved into how an animal like a Whale may think’

Individual feedback for ‘Song for Ellen’ from granddaughter Ellen, aged 6 ‘I never thought someone would write a poem for me. It made me cry a bit but it was a very, very happy cry’

On hearing the poems: ‘The poet has a ‘mogelijkheid’, an ability to absorb and transmit the emotion of a situation so that the reader feels it too.’ Hans Vermeulen, businessman.

On hearing the poems: ‘The difference between ordinary and extra-ordinary is just…that little extra!’ Anton Mullan, Composer.

I asked Sarah a few impertinent questions about his collection, Here’:

1. What was the inspiration for the collection and how long did it take to come together?

A few years ago I developed a life-threatening illness and while I was having treatment, my mother passed away. At first, writing poetry was a way of expressing what I felt about this. It then developed into a way of noticing, understanding and communicating more general life experiences and emotions. I like the idea that when I’m gone, my poems will still be able to communicate with the reader. The poems were written over a period of around 5 years.

2. How did you get involved with writing poetry – is there a
‘literary tradition’ in your family?

My mother adored poetry and introduced me to it from an early age. I’ve inherited her collection of around 400 poetry books. My father often quoted poetry around the house. His favourites were The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam and Tennyson’s Charge of the Light Brigade. He was also very good at writing comic poems. My family name is Milton and my grandmother was unwavering in her belief that we were descendants of the late, great poet John Milton. So I guess you could say that there was a bit of a ‘literary tradition’ in our family.

3. Are you a ‘researcher’ or is your work more
imagination-driven?

A bit of both really. It often starts with something
catching my imagination and then I’ll try and find out more about the
subject by undertaking some research.

4. Tell us something about the book that nobody has mentioned that they have noticed yet.

Nobody has mentioned my extensive knowledge of Dahlia varieties yet! I got this by looking up Dahlia varieties in The Readers Digest Encyclopaedia of Garden Plants & Flowers and picking the ones that had the best sounding names for my poem ‘Dahlia Days’ – I mean, what’s not to like about the words ‘Klankstad Kerkrade’!

5. What is the best comment about the book that you have heard or
read?

It has to be from my granddaughter Ellen, aged 6 for ‘Song for Ellen’:
‘I never thought someone would write a poem for me. It made me cry a bit but it was a very, very happy cry’