The Word for Sorrow (Salt Modern Poets) - Tapa dura

The Word for Sorrow crosses boundaries between poetry and translation as versions from Ovid’s Tristia converse with new poems that reflect on experiences behind and beyond them, such as the doomed Allied campaign at Gallipoli during World War I, focusing on weavings of life and text across history towards resonating constants of humanity ... Balmer poignantly reflects T.S. Eliot’s explanations of the ‘mind of the poet’, the sensibility that connects disparities, locating and effecting meaningful wholes.’ (Paschalis Nikolaou Norwich Papers )

Josephine Balmer’s poetry moves beautifully, wittily and indeed bravely. (George Szirtes )