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Digging Holes To Another Continent
Digging Holes to Another Continent, contains twenty poems, but it speaks volumes. Almost like a small story in verse, the poems in this chapbook chronicle the sights and experiences of a trip to New Zealand. The beaches and the sea feature heavily in these perfect small poems, and these pieces turn the reader into a traveler to far distant shores.
(Blurb by Nicholas Trandahl, author of Pulling Words and Think of Me)
(Blurb by Nicholas Trandahl, author of Pulling Words and Think of Me)
- GenresPoetry
26 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2018
21 people want to read
About the author
Isabelle Charlotte Kenyon
18 books79 followersNorthern poet, author and novel-grappler.
Founder and Managing Director of Fly on the Wall Press.
Lover of dogs, coffee shops, theatre and dancing.
Always writing, always reading!
Founder and Managing Director of Fly on the Wall Press.
Lover of dogs, coffee shops, theatre and dancing.
Always writing, always reading!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 5, 2018
I was fortunate enough to be an early reader/reviewer of this chapbook, and... wow.
Isabelle Kenyon isn’t a person trying to write poetry. Kenyon has a true poetic voice in a world that finds those voices lacking. She’s a serious poetic talent, real and honest. Like the other contemporary greats, she has found that beautiful way of giving voice to an observation, a moment, or a feeling.
Her new chapbook, Digging Holes to Another Continent, contains twenty poems, but it speaks volumes. Almost like a small story in verse, the poems in this chapbook chronicle the sights and experiences of a trip to New Zealand. The beaches and the sea feature heavily in these perfect small poems, and these pieces turn the reader into a traveler to far distant shores. For that, I am thankful to Isabelle Kenyon.
Isabelle Kenyon isn’t a person trying to write poetry. Kenyon has a true poetic voice in a world that finds those voices lacking. She’s a serious poetic talent, real and honest. Like the other contemporary greats, she has found that beautiful way of giving voice to an observation, a moment, or a feeling.
Her new chapbook, Digging Holes to Another Continent, contains twenty poems, but it speaks volumes. Almost like a small story in verse, the poems in this chapbook chronicle the sights and experiences of a trip to New Zealand. The beaches and the sea feature heavily in these perfect small poems, and these pieces turn the reader into a traveler to far distant shores. For that, I am thankful to Isabelle Kenyon.
December 28, 2018
This chapbook is full of poems about nature, the beauty of the ocean, and self-healing.
"It took a trip
to the other side of the world
to heal."
Isabelle Kenyon describes a love as a journey, with beautiful imagery that strikes you like a brushstroke, all the while, with a backdrop of an ocean taunting you. Kenyon's poems are short, but to the point. This tiny book of twenty-five poems reveals a poetic voice on these pages filled with waves of imagery and sun-rays.
Isabelle Kenyon is a great addition to a poetry lover's bookshelf.
"It took a trip
to the other side of the world
to heal."
Isabelle Kenyon describes a love as a journey, with beautiful imagery that strikes you like a brushstroke, all the while, with a backdrop of an ocean taunting you. Kenyon's poems are short, but to the point. This tiny book of twenty-five poems reveals a poetic voice on these pages filled with waves of imagery and sun-rays.
Isabelle Kenyon is a great addition to a poetry lover's bookshelf.
April 4, 2018
I was honoured to be invited as an early reader of Isabelle Kenyon’s new chapbook “Digging Holes To Another Continent”, receiving an advanced reading copy of the book from the author.
What a strong poetic voice! I have been a fan of Ms Kenyon ever since “This Is not a Spectacle”, but her new work is so powerful and full of wonderful, unexpected imagery and snapshots of a reality she has created with her poems that I had to reread her chapbook a second time, just to prolong the pleasure of experiencing her verse.
What a strong poetic voice! I have been a fan of Ms Kenyon ever since “This Is not a Spectacle”, but her new work is so powerful and full of wonderful, unexpected imagery and snapshots of a reality she has created with her poems that I had to reread her chapbook a second time, just to prolong the pleasure of experiencing her verse.
April 5, 2018
I'm grateful being one of "Digging Holes To Another Continent" early readers and having the pleasure to read this book in advance.
Isabelle Kenyon, traveling one more time, exploring with all of her senses, observing as she always does, details only a true poet as her could notice, describing them with strong words, capturing the reader in a single read.
Isabelle Kenyon, traveling one more time, exploring with all of her senses, observing as she always does, details only a true poet as her could notice, describing them with strong words, capturing the reader in a single read.
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April 27, 2018Isabelle manages to weave such beautiful imagery into her words, I felt like I was going on a trip along with her as I read this. Absolutely beautiful -- my only complaint is that I wish there was more! I wanted to keep reading! :) Can't wait to see what Isabelle continues to put out in the future <3
May 15, 2018
This is an unusual and very personal work of twenty poems. As always, do not let my star count override your judgement of content. More on the stars, counting, and my rating challenges later. Let’s get to the good stuff: Kenyon’s work.
The first poem, The Journey, sets up the context of the work. A trip to New Zealand, apparently to attend a wedding, becomes a healing experience.
For an insight into recovery, turn to Wave Meditation, where we find this: “Lifted, /further from shore /by waves of fury /their ferocity sudden, /awakening animal instinct...”
For a complex poem, turn to He Married a Faith Healer, where we find this: “Faith healer /what does it mean /when you speak for my dead Grandmothers /in their tone, /without meeting them,...”
In the fine metaphor Beach Thoughts you will read: “You are not who I thought you were.” Buy the book and turn to this poem.
For a good laugh, turn to Did You Hear the Possum Last Night.
Now for my star count boilerplate. Twenty poems is enough to capture a personal recovery, and Kenyon has done this extremely well. It is a bit harder for this reviewer to evaluate a ‘voice’ from a small collection. My personal guidelines, when doing any review, are as follows: five stars means, roughly equal to best in genre. Rarely given. Four stars means, extremely good. Three stars means, definitely recommendable. I am a tough reviewer. I try hard to be consistent. I find four stars to fit my criteria as a tough reviewer. Your personal rating may well be higher. Definitely recommended.
The first poem, The Journey, sets up the context of the work. A trip to New Zealand, apparently to attend a wedding, becomes a healing experience.
For an insight into recovery, turn to Wave Meditation, where we find this: “Lifted, /further from shore /by waves of fury /their ferocity sudden, /awakening animal instinct...”
For a complex poem, turn to He Married a Faith Healer, where we find this: “Faith healer /what does it mean /when you speak for my dead Grandmothers /in their tone, /without meeting them,...”
In the fine metaphor Beach Thoughts you will read: “You are not who I thought you were.” Buy the book and turn to this poem.
For a good laugh, turn to Did You Hear the Possum Last Night.
Now for my star count boilerplate. Twenty poems is enough to capture a personal recovery, and Kenyon has done this extremely well. It is a bit harder for this reviewer to evaluate a ‘voice’ from a small collection. My personal guidelines, when doing any review, are as follows: five stars means, roughly equal to best in genre. Rarely given. Four stars means, extremely good. Three stars means, definitely recommendable. I am a tough reviewer. I try hard to be consistent. I find four stars to fit my criteria as a tough reviewer. Your personal rating may well be higher. Definitely recommended.
May 3, 2018
I like both poems that begin and finish this book. They have such a depth, and quality to them. So different in tone to the other poems in the book, which are playful. These are poems from New Zealand, small observations of Isabelle’s surroundings, from beaches to trees, and Christmas,
‘outside our Western culture, I watch
Chinese, Indian, Asian, and Maori
feast on barbecued meats
to Katy Perry blasted speakers
with no thoughts for baby Jesus,’
There is what feels to me a strong theme of family, and unity, to grandparents, to teenagers too old to be making sandcastles. I have to say poem Little Bird was a favourite, as it brought up memories of my brother and I cracking up at the strange strut that birds have while on a family holiday. My brother would make up voices for them, and I would be roaring with laughter.
My one criticism would be the repeat of a few of the words, bobbing being one. As you don’t have that same delight of reading the words in a poem on the second occasion for a first time. Isabelle does a marvellous job of writing the poems, with certain subjects – road trips, beaches, etc. occurring again and again. She finds a new way of describing the scene, and putting the reader in the picture.
Digging Holes to Another Continent is all too brief, but do journeys not all feel like that at the end?
‘outside our Western culture, I watch
Chinese, Indian, Asian, and Maori
feast on barbecued meats
to Katy Perry blasted speakers
with no thoughts for baby Jesus,’
There is what feels to me a strong theme of family, and unity, to grandparents, to teenagers too old to be making sandcastles. I have to say poem Little Bird was a favourite, as it brought up memories of my brother and I cracking up at the strange strut that birds have while on a family holiday. My brother would make up voices for them, and I would be roaring with laughter.
My one criticism would be the repeat of a few of the words, bobbing being one. As you don’t have that same delight of reading the words in a poem on the second occasion for a first time. Isabelle does a marvellous job of writing the poems, with certain subjects – road trips, beaches, etc. occurring again and again. She finds a new way of describing the scene, and putting the reader in the picture.
Digging Holes to Another Continent is all too brief, but do journeys not all feel like that at the end?
June 1, 2018
I love how Isabelle has the ability to make the unfamiliar familiar. I have never been to New Zealand, but I have visited beaches and shores and her poetry even when unsettling or upset speaks with such clarity that it makes it rather delightful. A few lines of her poetry that really stuck with me were "blushed dreams - a magenta reality" from her poem "I Drift, I Swim". It just reminded me of all the beautiful sunsets I've encountered in my life. Her poem "little bird" made me chuckle because it reminded me of the little birds that would yell at me when I got too close to their nests in spring, as if it were my fault they put them so close to humans. I also loved the line, "I exist to witness" from the poem Imagine. Because I feel like this line applies to all artists writers or not. We exist to see the things that maybe others cannot see without a bit of help. I also liked the line "This land does not belong to any man" because I truly believe that no land belongs to any man. It just resonated with a lot of truth to me. This is a lovely, emotional book about something deeper than traveling whilst encompassing the travel theme.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews