Cascade Books, in imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers in Oregon in the United States of America, has published a collection of Andrew’s poems titled The Farewell Suites. It is the second poetry collection Andrew has had published in Cascade Books’ Poiema Poetry Series, the first being Abundance: New and Selected Poems (2020).
As stated on the back cover, “The Farewell Suites is a collection of poems dealing with death and grief and arranged in sets focused on different member of the poet’s family—a brother who committed suicide, a child who died before birth, a father who slipped into delirium as he slipped out of life. These finely crafted poems capture the movements of the heart and are stunning tributes to love, patience, acceptance and forgiveness. Though focused on the poet’s own loved ones, the poems speak of and to the hearts of all readers, expressing our shared anxieties and sorrows at the pass of those we love. The collection as a whole is deeply comforting, being shot through with both human warmth and heavenly hope. Indeed, Lansdown’s farewells anticipate reunion, when at last our mortality is overwhelmed by immortality.”
While the 60+ poems are wide ranging in style, tone and length, these two short poems give a sense of the book:
The Last Entry
Ten days before she died
my mother wrote, ‘Colyn
cut my toenails today.’And with this last entry
in her notepad diary
she perfectly expressedthe contraction of the life
and the expansion of the love
she shared with my father.© Andrew Lansdown
Don’t Worry
‘It’s alright,’ I say. The orderlies
are wheeling his bed into the corridor.‘They’re just taking you to another ward.’
I don’t say, the one for palliative care.He turns his head and reaches towards
the sound of me. ‘But how will I find you?’Everything about him gives me grief,
my father, gripped by frailties and fears.‘Don’t worry,’ I say, ‘I’ll find you.’
And a little later for a little longer, I do.© Andrew Lansdown
The Farewell Suites can be purchase through the BUY BOOKS page on this website (paperback, $25; hardback $48 – postage included). It can also be purchased in America from Wipf and Stock Publishers (https://wipfandstock.com/9798385223923/the-farewell-suites/) and from Amazon.
Read more about The Farewell Suites on this website here: https://andrewlansdown.com/poetry/poetry-collections/the-farewell-suites/
