The Soul We Share - Ricky Ray

 

WINNER OF THE 2023 ARYAMATI POETRY PRIZE

When a collection of poems are ordered into a prelude, five movements, a coda and an interlude I immediately thought I was in for some kind of musically themed poetry. And in a way, to me anyway, there is something musical about poetry – the rhyme, the rhythm, the meter. But having read these pieces, I felt more that the poet was expressing the symphony or a concerto of his life. 

The prologue contains a single poem, entitled The What of Us in four sections, and it gives us, I guess, a hint,  a summary maybe, of what is to come within the collection thematically – the poet’s disability, his dog, his life choices and dilemmas and his life’s philosophies.

It’s very accessible work. There are no attempts at clever trickery in terms of metaphor and imagery. It’s straightforward verse that you feel just comes straight from the poet’s very soul that he is sharing with his readers. I wasn’t sure if that was the intent behind the title or whether he was referring to the soul he shares with his beloved dog. Or, maybe both!

I wasn’t too sure about the inclusion of some prose pieces in the collection. It wasn’t that I didn’t find them interesting it’s that I was in poetry mode and that’s what I wanted. I suspect that’s why it’s the Interlude of the collection.

For any animal lovers, particularly dog lovers, the poems about Addie will burn their way onto your heart, especially if you’ve experienced the heartbreak of losing a beloved pet companion.

If you've suffered with spinal problems then Preparing My Spine for the Afterlife is a must!

For ecologist, there’s much to delight. Mother Earth is referenced on more than one occasion, and then one poem in particular contains an affirmation that could become a mantra for environmentalists.

‘ I offer Mother Earth, my voice, my life,

To help her creatures, creativity,

To do with as she pleases.’

It's poetry to ponder; full of thoughts to take away with you and contemplate. It's a man opening his own soul up to himself, questioning his life and courageous enough to share it all with his readers. 

As always one has favourites, I especially enjoyed Aches, Quartet #3 with its subheadings of Resilience, Hope, Reverence and Faith, perhaps because I understand so well the difficulty of getting comfortable -

'I shift and shift,

shift and shift in search

of comfort,

knowing there's no such thing.'

Movement III contains the poem And Then, Very Gently which comprises of fourteen sections which I would love to quote here in full but I will refrain! It's moving, thought provoking and well observed -

On writer's block;

'The next day 

language arrived 

like a puppy in my pen.'

On friendship;

'Is this what friendship amounts to,

the right to curse and complain,

to grumble, without offense,

or with offense, but just a little?'

On language;

'I like well-worn language

but live in an era

that wants the newest new.'

I think it's a collection I will return to again and again. And, as ever, it's much better if you read the poems out loud! 

My thanks to Isabelle Kenyon at Fly on the Wall Press for a gifted copy.

Buy your copy here  https://www.flyonthewallpress.co.uk/product-page/the-soul-we-share-by-ricky-ray

Arrives with a limited-edition postcard artwork of Addie. 
17% of each sale will be donated to the Irish Setter rescue organization (Irishrescue.org)