‘thought-provoking, heartfelt and hypnotising’
Charlotte Whitehead’s review of Mardibooks’ new poetry collection, ‘There’s no Wi-If’ by Alyson Torns
‘Torns’ poetry inspires a dichotomy between pain and security’
Alyson Torns’ new collection of poetry, There’s no Wi-If, certainly unveils a unique and distinctive energy. Written in separate sections, each headlined by days of the week, Torn reveals the simple details of life through a chronological structure, creatively harnessing the concepts of time and distance. This episodic narrative underlines the narrator’s journey, exposing tangible fragments of viability and humanity through powerful emotions.
‘battling with the past
voices daily
remembering
you are a survivor
today’
Her particular focus on vulnerability and undiscovered truth at the beginning of the collection is done to great effect; her poetry isn’t just a swift glance at the human condition but a deep insight into suffering and fragility with a vague hope of recovery. The poetry later pinpoints weakness as a form of strength and provides disparate imagery that is often provocative and impactful for the reader.
‘Torns’ poetic voice is haunting yet daring; she has a remarkable compassion for subjectivity and selfhood’
Torns relies heavily on rhyme and symmetry which discloses a profound influence on her poetic aesthetic. The words are distributed eloquently and thoughtfully, almost giving her poetry an oneiric tone. She manages to pack a lot into her collection, detailing many themes and life experiences that we can all relate to somehow. Torns’ poetic voice is haunting yet daring; she has a remarkable compassion for subjectivity and selfhood. At times sad and disruptive, Torns’ poetry inspires a dichotomy between pain and security. She constantly brings the reader in and out of wavering emotion, depicting an erratic cohesion that transports us on a journey of our own.
‘and reliving
the trauma
to be opened
up and cleansed
takes time’
Torns’ collection of poetry, There’s no Wi-If, is thought-provoking, heartfelt and hypnotising. The language holds a lasting impression as well as questions the understanding of our own commitments. There is a familiarity to her poetic voice which at times feels trapped yet determined. Torns manages to convey so much in such a small collection, her poems are incredibly touching and certainly worth reading!
‘exposing tangible fragments of viability and humanity… certainly worth reading!’
Alyson Torns’ ‘There’s no Wi-If’ can be found on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Theres-No-Wi-If-Poems-Regeneration-ebook/dp/B07Q37TY9P/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=there%27s+no+wi-if&qid=1557503010&s=digital-text&sr=1-1
for more poetry by Alyson Torns, here’s ‘Unresolved Journey’ on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unresolved-Journey-Alyson-Torns-ebook/dp/B00925VHCO/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=unresolved+journey&qid=1557502064&s=digital-text&sr=1-1
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