Some time ago Sylvia Perry spent seven days in hospital. This booklet contains the remarkable poems she wrote during that time, along with others equally moving, with a cover photograph by Justin Pumphrey. 40-page booklet. ISBN 978-1-909404-07-6.
Sylvia Perry is a poet of the over-looked moment — of the delicacy and nuance in the ordinary and everyday. Her hospital sequence is unguarded and utterly plain, and should be on the syllabus of every medical student and NHS manager. This is a strong and very honest voice.
Rose Flint
These poems grow out of consideration for how things are; they share in our commonality of social concern; and, importantly, they listen to people.
Graham Hartill
Sample poem
Pimlico Pavement
— Sylvia Perry 2014
You made a bed on the fourth step,cardboard to keep out the cold,scant possessionsbut a fine view –out and over the playing fields. Here you sit and drawwith coloured pens on white paper,bright childlike imagesthat fall from your lapto join the autumn leaves. As I pass you sit hunchedfuriously flicking pagesof a cheap magazine,not reading, not seeing,shutting yourself away. Sunday I look down from my window,and see you lying on your backin a patch of sunlight,smoking, gaze fixedon the beautiful blue sky.
