Patricia M Osborne

I’m delighted to welcome Paul Brookes back to Patricia’s Pen as he launches his new limited edition pamphlet These Random Acts of Wildness published by Glass Head Press (2023), founded by eminent poet Ian Parks. Without further ado, it’s over to Paul.

These Random Acts of Wildness

Paul Brookes

Wildlife Trust’s 30 Days Wild annual campaign in June encourages people to enjoy Random Acts Of Wildness. I set myself a challenge to write 30 sonnets using their prompts. More marvellous ideas can be found in Lucy McRobert’s marvellous book 365 Days Wild.

The wonderful cover of my book was designed by genius artworker Jane Cornwell. She used my photo taken of The Fallen Angel in Wombwell Cemetery wittily adding a yellow duster for it to hold, and adding my name to the angel’s plinth. The actual figure is the only white angel in Wombwell Cemetery and there is a sonnet about how it was discovered, raised up and broken wing restored in the collection. It is one of seven Wombwell Cemetery sonnets at the end of the collection.

My mam, not an overtly religious person was one of Dylan Thomas’ Tidy wives, espousing the creed Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Somehow inner cleanliness became outer cleanliness, perhaps encouraged by medical emphasis on germ free environments. Inside uncleanness became outside mess. Outer reflecting the inner. The wild became messy, chaotic and unpredictable. Domestic became organised, predictable and sensible. I explore where both meet.

Local writer and presenter Ian McMillan encouraged folk during lockdown to write sonnets. Giving it a go, it soon became a sonnet a day to give my creative muscle exercise.

Unconsciously, whilst writing sonnet formality, language formality edged up against wilderness, wildness, emotional vitality, and the energy of dialect and difference. These themes are taken on in more detail in this book’s sequel Othernesses published by J C Studio Press earlier this year which explores the lives of insects, arachnids, and marine life.

It forms the final book in a loose quartet, beginning with Wonderland in Alice: Plus Other Ways of Seeing continuing in As Folktaleteller.

Copies of These Random Acts of Wildness can only be bought direct from Paul Brookes as it is a limited edition with only 29 copies left out of 100. Only £5.00 plus p & p. The other three books are available on Amazon. Order your copy by messaging Paul on one of the following links.

Twitter

Facebook

Website

Find out more about Paul’s other books and order a copy HERE via his Amazon author page.