Surge is a hard but beautiful book singing fury and compassion. A reminder to remember what is has been conveniently forgotten. It links the New Cross Fire of 1981 with the Grenfell disaster. It asks questions about the society we live in. It gives the voiceless a voice. It reminded me - not in style but in its intention - of Anna Akhmatova's 'Requiem'

(from Requiem)

“And can you describe this?”
And I answered:
“Yes, I can.”

What Bernard tries to describe is sometimes hard to read.

Every poem should be read here but the stand-outs for me were 'Songbook', '+' and '-', 'Hiss' and 'Flowers'.

"Will anyone speak of this
the way the flowers do..."

Read it.

And weep.

This was an absolutely tremendous collection of poetry. Although I felt like a few in the middle of the collection lost their way a little bit, the meaning behind this poems.....I'm so glad that I got to study these as Bernard gives a voice to those that have been silenced/forgotten by the media.

Highly recommend this collection.

Jay's a brilliant NB poet described by Ali Smith on the blurb as a modern Auden which feels a little unnecessary but I'm sure they'll take it. Anyway a harsh but hoping collection drawing rings between the New Cross Massacre of 1981 and Grenfell. It chokes like smoke and I was on the Leuchars train platform no less.
I'm curious about what they're up to these days they've obviously all the talent but nary a whisper has reached me