Description
“John Ennis crafts a poetic discourse throughout his collections like a master weaver. It takes a moment for the true depth of connectivity to surface, often with breath-taking subtlety. From myth to family members, friends and lovers, Ennis’s poems reveal themselves as landmarks in a landscape that is deeply traditional, with its roots embedded in Ancient Irish folklore, Old English and Norse and woven through rural symbolism, and myth, while fearlessly rendering an undeniable fragility and humanity throughout. The reader is a participant, not merely an observer – from engaging dinners, to intimate reflections when the poet reveals his love of music and birdsong, his attachment to midland life and its people; his reverence for the classics and his advocacy for those facing human rights’ violations.” – Renée Sigel.
“Home, then, or its antithesis, is at the core of the book, as in nears and dears “In Waves Before Them” and “Hussein Salem”. “The Carra Days” attempts a new clarity on the personal adolescence in the Fad of one Fintan Daly, brother of Ray of The Burren Days.
Suibhne’s wings are intended a fresh pneumatic: Suibhne, partnerless, missing his kids, a type of the restless, divorced, questioning, Cartesian spirit, never settling again. If the book demonstrates a titter of wisdom, this is mostly derivative of Nordic, Old Irish, Old English, the worlds of Beowulf and Icelandic Sìgúr Rós.” – Niall MacGiolla Bhuí
*We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Arts Office, Westmeath Co. Council.
