#IBuyYourPamphlet: WEEK 16

‘Mortal Veins’
by Rhianna Levi

the woodland swamped calling / They are the warning…

Rhianna Levi is a writer, teacher and academic based in Worcester. She holds the title of Worcestershire Poet Laureate 22/23, being the youngest poet ever to have the role.

Rhianna has been published in numerous anthologies and literature mags. She also holds degrees from both the University of Worcester and Birmingham City University. This also remains another triumph using Amazon fore distribution: don’t let people tell you that the self-publishing route is any less validating than a third party approach. I’ve done it myself and the sense of satisfaction is immense, especially when content exceeds expectation as it does here.

What’s in it for Me?

This is a powerhouse of a pamphlet, and it was a joyful challenge for me to complete. Rhianna’s style is economical, intellectual, and as a result sits at a density that demanded an undivided attention… and when you encounter someone who thinks completely differently to you as a poet, you should find yourself obliged to work harder, ensuring the text you’re reading is given extra examination. These poems offer education, and an exercise in comprehension on multiple levels.

It is easy to see why Levi was chosen to be the Laureate for Worcestershire. Whether it’s the eloquent economy of Limbo or the dense, disturbing wordplay of Permission, I Think Not, there are a huge range of topics discussed and an incredibly interesting and complex use of wordplay. Once I’d found a starting point with Keys are of Importance, a vivid sense of individuality and intellect began to unlock, and that makes this journey all the more satisfying.

Sometimes it can be hard when you encounter work that approaches the business of poetry in a manner that you struggle to initially understand. However, with time and patience a huge amount has been learnt from this experience, the relationship of poet to the craft, and how that translates into a larger body of work. It’s an impressive debut, and I look forward to seeing how Levi’s work progresses from this point onwards.