EDGELANDS AND POETRY.

EDGELANDS AND POETRY. Here is a review by Marion Shoard–the environmentalist I quoted in yesterday’s post—of EDGELANDS, a new book by Paul Farley and Michael Symmons Roberts, They are two poets. Shoard calls them “the first bards of England’s edgelands.” She quotes them: “Have you seen milk morning sun brushing the tops of willow herb, nettle, thistle, in the unkempt field behind the car‑crushers?” This review of the book in the Economist (March 5) says that they “find unexpected pleasures: a car gradually coming into view beneath the surface of a pond….” Shoard welcomes the book, but says that something more than celebration is needed because “Wild space is being prettified at the expense of its character and creatures. Industrial ruins are being cleared away.” Notice the abandoned tires in the photograph in the Shoard review. Here is another review of the book with photographs which will test whether you find edgelands beautiful.