Five Books of Marriage
by
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I recall the separation, how it felt
like birth, the being given up
for immediate adoption, like dismissal
or amputation. It felt like drowning.
But for you? I never considered it,
assumed you knew what you were doing;
never thought that you too might be lost.
I know better now. Others came in,
occupied us, changed us, gave and took away,
left our worlds different, taught us things,
departed.
And then, like raindrops on a window,
like tears, we limped down the glass
in aimless moist swells,
crept together again in a sudden
wayward kiss of liquid recognition
and were one. Madness. Loneliness. Love.
And here we are. Like this.
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About the Book
'Dark, sexy and uncompromising - Harry Owen's poetry floodlights the secret corners of our relationships and personal histories. Unexpected imagery and fantastic observation are expressed with dry humour and a distinctive voice.' Jo Bell (Co-ordinator, National Poetry Day)
Five Books of Marriage, Harry Owen's powerful third full collection, explores the course of a relationship from its early days through the sadness and pain of a marriage's breakdown and divorce to the finding again of a life and happiness beyond. It is hard. It is honest. It is real.
This poetry is filled with anger and joy, confusion and understanding, despair and burning optimism. It is both intensely individual and entirely recognisable, Owen's finely crafted verse coaxing the universal from the personal in a celebration of life's possibilities.
'Achingly good . . . an absolute pleasure.' Zinta Aistars (poet and editor, The Smoking Poet)
'The poems stay with you like a song.' Ray Melnik (novelist)
About the Author
Harry Owen was appointed the first official Poet Laureate for Cheshire in 2003. His work has appeared widely in the poetry press in the UK and US and he has previously published two full collections: Searching for Machynlleth (2000) and The Music of Ourselves (2004) in addition to a CD of poetry and music, A Window In My Diary (2006), in collaboration with musician Carl Brunsdon.
Harry is a celebrated reader and performer of his work, his most recent success being as part of Bunch of Fives, a group of former PLs for Cheshire who toured the UK's North West and Midlands to great acclaim during 2007/08.
Since the end of January 2008 Harry has lived in South Africa's Eastern Cape.