Somehow

Helen Calcutt's 'Somehow' is a deeply moving pamphlet of poems that begins with the devastating news of her brother Matthew's suicide. The collection is a raw and honest exploration of grief, weaving together harrowing and hopeful moments with poise and precision. Calcutt's work delves into the profound questions of how we survive immense loss, how trauma shapes our identity and creativity, and how we rebuild our lives from the wreckage. The poems are beautifully realized, transforming the unthinkable into something relatable and filled with understanding. /n/n This collection is a testament to the power of poetry to navigate the complexities of human emotion. Calcutt's words offer a light of understanding amidst the darkness, making the un-writable relatable and providing a sense of hope in the face of unimaginable change and loss.

Reviews

The High Window · 2021-03-23

transformative 4.50

The poems work individually yet resonate together, with recurring motifs and images that transform throughout the collection. The collection is both harrowing and hopeful.

The High Window reviewer notes that each poem in the collection stands on its own but also resonates with the others, creating a cohesive whole. They appreciate the recurring motifs and images that transform from poem to poem, adding depth and complexity. The collection is both harrowing and hopeful, offering a deeply felt journey through grief and healing.

Quick quotes

Each of the poems in this book works on its own, yet how they resonate with one another, with motifs and images transformed from poem to poem, ...

The collection is both harrowing and hopeful, offering a deeply felt journey through grief and healing.

The recurring motifs and images add depth and complexity to the collection.

Litter Magazine · 2020-12-10

impactful 4.00

The chapbook is powerful, combining technical skill with emotional directness. It leaves a lasting impact with its raw and honest portrayal of grief.

The reviewer at Litter Magazine is struck by the emotional directness and technical skill in this chapbook. They appreciate how Helen Calcutt's work resonates deeply, offering a raw and honest portrayal of grief. The poems are not just technically accomplished but also deeply felt, making a lasting impact on the reader.

Quick quotes

Helen Calcutt is new to me and the powerful work in this chapbook resounds with both technique and emotional directness in a manner which feels...

The poems are not just technically accomplished but also deeply felt.

The chapbook leaves a lasting impact with its raw and honest portrayal of grief.

Emma Lee's Blog · Emma Lee · 2020-09-23

moving 4.50

The collection is a poignant journey through grief, capturing the raw emotions and the natural world's role in healing. The poems are deeply personal and resonate with emotional depth.

Emma Lee finds the collection to be a profound exploration of grief and loss. She highlights how the poems beautifully intertwine personal sorrow with the natural world, creating a sense of restoration. Each poem stands alone but collectively they build a powerful narrative of healing and adjustment. The emotional directness and technical skill make this a standout collection.

Quick quotes

The collection is a journey from a sudden bereavement through to recognition of loss and the adjustment that follows the emergence from grief.

The poems are deeply personal and resonate with emotional depth.

The natural world plays a significant role in the healing process.

Appears in Lists

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