The collection is marked by a clear, honest vision rooted in detailed moments, blending concreteness with transience, and reflecting a deep engagement with place and memory.
This review emphasizes O'Donoghue's skill in capturing finely detailed, almost miniature portraits of moments and places that carry deep meaning. The poems are compared to the work of painters for their precision and vividness, focusing on the here and now yet always infused with the past. The reviewer highlights O'Donoghue’s ability to explore the paradox of anchorage as both a source of security and a potential hindrance, reflecting on life’s attachments with nuance and depth. The collection is appreciated for its groundedness and the poet’s eye for nature and human experience, steering clear of abstract or overly broad gestures. The reviewer connects O'Donoghue’s work with other great poets like Frost and Seamus Heaney, noting the collection’s focus on the individual moment as a source of universal insight.
Quick quotes
The Anchorage rests squarely yet precariously on a paradox.
A poet’s vision must be clear, unwavering, honest; it must be rooted in both the concreteness as well as the transience of things.
Finely detailed micro-portraits reminiscent of painter Holbein the Younger’s work are his forte.