Rupert M. Loydell

Ballads of the Alone Rupert M. Loydell

These five sequences of linguistically-driven word patterns, draw on the visual and written work of named photographers to explore ideas of seeing, language and being. Each line sits on an another line, subtly asserting its right to be there as a thing in itself, yet also asking the reader why these phrases are placed where they are and just how they all link together. The relentless rhythmic noise of these poems-perhaps the equivalent of heavy metal-can detract from this process, whilst the coherence of form only emphasises the differences contained in this disturbing and elliptical work; but those who persevere will find a rewarding and original poetry, full of experiental moments as well as diverse music and perceptive thought. These are ballads for the 21st century: tough, fragmented and unsure of themselves, yet given to insight and swagger.