Nest: New and Selected Poems

Description

Davies' poems track and map the characteristics of his relationships--with the environment, people he meets, loved ones, animals, work, childhood, fantasy, and, of course, sheds. This is a collection mingling wry humour with sharp focus that will leave you wondering and questioning what really matters.

Born and raised in Birmingham in the English Midlands, John now lives in Brighton on the south coast. His work has been published in The Guardian, The Irish Examiner, The Echo Room, Poetry South East and azul, amongst others, as well as online. He was the first non-Irish editor of The Stony Thursday Book, an annual anthology of contemporary poetry published in Limerick. John is perhaps best known as his poetic alter ego, Shedman, (www.shedman.net) the original itinerant poet in a shed who has appeared at numerous festivals and events. As Shedman his commissioned work has ranged from poems engraved into the windows of a learning centre on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, to major hospital projects with artist Sue Ridge, to a poem about the Forest Ridge for the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, emulating Michael Drayton's alexandrines in his Poly-Olbion.

"A really beautiful collection."--Macgillivray "A sparing use of rueful wit plus a varied and strong use of form further distinguish this exciting new collection."--Penelope Shuttle "An impressive collection... these poems have a powerful authenticity."--Brendan Cleary "Moves and delights the reader with wit and tenderness."--Martin Figura "This volume will make you laugh, reflect, mourn, forgive...a joyous affirmation of life's essential cycle."--Sudeep Sen "Wise, unsentimental, honest and perceptive."--Jackie Wills