Asterism - by Michael Grieve (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The poems of Asterism are a series of sideways-glimpsed fictions. Without answers, they feel their way through human experience, examining fallibility and forgiveness.

Some poems present characters in situations of crisis or constraint, while in others, ideas and obsessions overflow rational boundaries towards the transgressive. These poems range widely, from the films of John Waters and Pasolini to da Vinci's muse, a linguistic experiment conducted by Scotland's James IV and the epic feats of Kirkcaldy's own Jocky Wilson. Ultimately, they explore human connections and the workaday love that holds them together.

In touch with the poetic tradition, Grieve's debut collection may sing of the heavenly and the diabolical, but its feet are planted firmly on the ground.

Review Quotes

"Deeply thoughtful, rewarding poems." --Robert Crawford

"The asterism, that triangle of stars, is a symbol to direct our attention, as the poem does, away from itself, towards elsewhere; or in astronomical terms, it's a named pattern of stars within a constellation - think of the Summer Triangle. The poems of Michael Grieve's Asterism constantly lead us somewhere new--a tribute to his considerable versatility. In the opening poem--his ars poetica--he reminds us that the purpose of form is to free us from its constraints and direct us, like the asterism, towards the unspoken beyond. This debut collection is a tribute to his singular skill and vision. If I were asked to provide evidence that Scottish poetry had sufficient funds for a healthy future, then I would say his name." --John Glenday

About the Author

Michael Grieve lives in Fife, Scotland. He works as a teacher, and before that was a bookseller. His work has appeared in many poetry journals, including The Little Review, The Dark Horse and the Irish Pages, while his pamphlet Luck is published by HappenStance. He was shortlisted for the 2020 Edwin Morgan Prize.