“Five years of seasons” – Phil Santus (Print Edition)

Description

Five years of seasons is an exhilarating journey of the imagination. Each verse is like a moving image captured from above by a hovering camera drone that employs both a wide-angle and a zoom lens. The verses ascend to the heights of the space station and down to the surface of the planet, across woods and fields and settlements, and traverse a lifetime that encompasses the exuberance of childhood and youth, the hopes and regrets of middle age and the futilities of old age. Enjoy the ride!

 

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“Five years of seasons. Over many years I have admired and enjoyed haiku so it was with great pleasure that I began reading this collection to discover a series of haiku that spans each of the four seasons over a period of five years. Spare and elegant the poems flow seamlessly conveying past and present experiences and also future hopes as we move through childhood to old age. There is knowledge and understanding of self and the poet’s relationship with the world observed through nature. This is a distinctive and accomplished first collection and I admire the crafting and light touch of the poet as he deals with the big themes of love and loss, acknowledging the fragility of life and all that we observe around us both human and in nature.”

Eileen Carney Hulme, author of Stroking The Air

“In Five years of seasons Phil Santus shares with the reader a range of perspectives and perceptions on the natural environment. The highly economical poems vary in their effect: sometimes powerfully evocative, sometimes quietly reflective and sometimes profoundly philosophical. Yet unpinning them all is the reassuring poet’s voice, always compassionate and positive. This is a welcome addition to Hedgehog Poetry Press’ growing catalogue and a worthy winner of its ‘White Label – Quatre’ Competition.”

 Nigel Kent, Pushcart Prize nominated poet and author of Saudade

“In Five years of seasons, Phil Santus reveals himself to be a writer of great sensitivity and environmental awareness. It is an impressive debut that introduces a poet of talent and virtuosity to a wider audience. These poems deal with the cycles of life through the passing seasons. They have a Wordsworthian quality to them that highlights the inexcusable damage that humanity has inflicted upon our planet and the devastation we have brought to what once was our beautiful Garden of Eden. It is a lyrical yet thought provoking achievement.”

Mick Yates, author of artefacts

“Five years of seasons: These poems embody the reflections of a person in later life looking back on a myriad life experiences. They frolic through youth with a light touch, grow more reflective and critical in middle-age, addressing wrong turnings and dreams left unfulfilled, then old age brings the wisdom of hindsight giving vent to feelings of helplessness and ineffectuality. The poems do not give ready answers to the questions raised but rather invite the reader to reflect and draw his/her own conclusions. There are some beautifully descriptive phrases such as ‘the glad summer clouds// sit arrayed in hazy skies’ and ‘acres of bluebells//blue vistas of broken light// in ancient woodland’. The haiku in its pure Japanese form frequently references the seasons and here five years of seasons correlates skilfully with the seasons of human life. This collection of poems is a straightforward read, yet it poses questions faced by most of us at different stages of our lives and demands a considered response. There is an empathy and humility which appeals directly to the human condition. This makes for an enjoyable read and I have no hesitation in recommending it.”

Margaret Royall, author of The Road to Cleethorpes Pier

 

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About Phil Santus

Phil Santus lives in a location set between the New Forest and Southampton Water. He was trained as a scientist and has completed a career as a development engineer and manager. He has since taken to writing and his poetry relates mainly to the relationship between humanity and the natural world.

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