The Ardent Dark

The Ardent Dark by Don Guttridge is a stunning latest book of poems combines a miscellaneous collection, comprising meditations on the leisurely boyhood days of sexual awakening, tributes to loved ones, and reflections on Bible stories from Sunday school, among others. In "All the Waters of the World", the opening poem, Gutteridge reflects on the sense of security and warmth that his beloved grandfather brought to his young, anxious mind. His attention to detail is sharp and his imagery apt and poignant, making the poems, in every sense, transporting: "Me just seven, my hand/ in his, loving to be led, / a sifting of sand beneath/ my feet, free to feel, / a sweep of beach from rim/ to rim, a whisper of waves/ before they bring their blue/ to bear."