Poetry Dead to Society

I throughly enjoyed this collection of poetry. From the very beginning I felt like I understood where the author was in their life. I felt as if I was experiencing each poem while I was reading them. My heart was breaking and being put back together with each poem I read. I wasn’t expecting the religious aspect in the collection and I feel like to some it could come as a surprise. I also felt like the religious poetry was placed in an awkward spot in the collection. Overall, I really enjoyed it and would read anything else he publishes.

Poetry is a moving concept I find. I try to read as much poetry as time allows from modern writers.
Poetry Dead to Society is a strange collection over six chapters that join the work loosely together.
The title is both thematic in many of the thoughts brought out in differing poems, talking about being a nobody and less than someone but also in tribute to the passing of the writer’s beloved sister.
There is hope and despair, love and broken-heartedness as well as joy amid the deepest grief.
What prevents anything being more than just a collection of rabid ramblings is a sense of purpose and a structure. The death of Shirley Spring in this manner has galvanised Cee Jay in bringing these poems to a wider audience and like any good writer he shares emotion, the intangible and a sense of belief.
The collection highlights some of Shirley’s own work and they fit seamlessly into this book of poems.
I always find lines or verse that resonates with me. In any group of poems, hopefully some will take you out of yourself and give reason to doubt, reflect or smile.
Words remain powerful and in certain groupings that can be very unsettling, disturbing or echoes of our own past.
I would encourage any reader to go to the end before passing judgement. Don’t get stalled by one poem or chapter, see the whole.
The anarchy of For you, I will die for you left me very worried but then it made better sense and leaves me conflicted.
Today the World Ended is another difficult read for other reasons. I enjoyed Quiet What I Wish to be.
Changing World to Life and Daydreams also stand out to me. Hope you get a chance to read it for yourselves.