With the run up to the launch of  my debut poetry pamphlet, Taxus Baccata, Andrew invited me to be Piano Sanctuary’s Wednesday Guest on Sound Cloud Radio.

Join me as I chat to Andrew and Noel about my writing and share one of my poems ‘Sunrise Concertante’ from Taxus Baccata. 

Go here to listen to podcast 

Inspired by my poem Oaks of Avalon, Andrew Quartermain from Piano Sanctuary has composed a piece of music and performed it on Poetry and Piano Special.  Click here to listen. My poem and Andrew’s composition are towards the end of the podcast but do listen all the way through. You won’t regret it. 

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Taxus Baccata – A collection of nature poetry

Includes poems based on myth, folklore and legend around trees. 

The collection features nineteen poems, eight of which are tree poems. For instance:

At the bottom of Glastonbury Tor stand two ancient oak trees, Gog and Magog, sole survivors of the avenue of oaks planted by druids. The oaks are named after the last two giants to inhabit Britain. This story captured my muse as the trees appeared to be reliant on one another and simulated a husband and wife.

Digging further into research, I discovered Gog was accidentally burnt down in April 2017 during a nature celebrant ceremony. Although now dead, Gog’s remains are still there. My poem, ‘Soulmates,’ helps to record this tragedy and stimulates emotion in the reader by showing the trees as husband and wife relying on each other.

Other poems in the collection include, ‘Seagull Sequence’ which uses an extended metaphor of war. I was inspired to write this sequence following observation on Worth Park lake over three consecutive weeks.

‘Sunrise Concertante’ portrays a dawn chorus over the River Ouse.

This pamphlet will particularly appeal to poetry and nature lovers.

“Taxus Baccata” has been nominated for the Michael Marks Poetry Award 2020

Blurbs for Taxus Baccata

“Reading the poems together is like stepping into a forest where each tree has a highly individual character. Patricia M Osborne does really well to conjure up such a playful range of voices that feel different yet enhance one another, and her shifts in stanza length add brilliant disruption.”John McCullough – Poet (Winner of the Hawthornden Prize for Literature 2020 and shortlisted for the Poetry Costa Award 2019)

“Patricia M Osborne writes of the natural world with keen observation and a sensitivity for the trees and flowers, birds and animals that fill it.  In this collection we learn of traditions, mythology and lore, factual information and fantasy, mingling in one glorious cornucopia.  Patricia casts her true poet’s eye over it all, and clothes it in images to enchant the reader.” (Alison Chisholm – Poet and Poetry Columnist on Writing Magazine) 

For more reviews click here.

Published 24th July 2020 by The Hedgehog Poetry Press

To order your signed copy via PayPal click on the SHOP link below 

If you prefer to shop at Amazon – although I can’t think why – go here 

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International orders please contact me for postage details.