Poetry As It Once Was

Reviewed By  Janet Mawdesley       July 21, 2023

 

Author  Peter Cressall

Distributor:      Brown Dog Books
ISBN:                 9781839526213
Publisher:         Self-Published; Imprint Brown Dog Books
Release Date:   April; 2023  

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More than twenty years ago Peter Cressall decided it was time to stop writing, but as the time has moved along and a ripe age has been reached, he has once again decided to share his somewhat intriguing viewpoint on life from a richly mature perspective.

Throughout the various pieces that make up Poetry As It Once Was, trying to guess his age, which could be anything from 70 years to 90 something years, or even more, becomes of interest as his words unfold offering so many differencing perspectives, in a few simple words.

Ditties, rub shoulders with Odes, Sonnets sing with a whimsical voice about the journey of life from a young man to a man with much wisdom garnered. A lovely little rhyming verse is The Tie That Binds; do make sure you read it!  Bible Stories is a must read as is Happy Birthday XI which is a totally irreverent perspective on chalking up some more years in ones 70’s.

Serious pondering is also a component undertaken in the Sonnets; as the pages turn they move towards almost a lament to the loss of a long-time friend, a partner, a wife who has gone before. He looks carefully at the way people gather to support, to care, but still the sense of aloneness remains.

With Love Song he is reaching out to a loved one as if it is a dream, a dream to help pass through endless sorrow.  if only he could be with her one more time, if only………………..

Poetry As It One Was is an absolute delight as it is simple verse that tells a story without a considerable amount of guess work or angst from the reader required. Slightly cynical, funny, wry, definitely witty and yet when required sombre, Peter Cressall’s view of life from a very, very long perspective is an absolute gem.