It is a slim volume, but like a hard frost, it leaves a lasting impression. Read it with a cup of tea, but don't be surprised if you find yourself pulling on your boots before you reach the last page.
Ralphs captures that distinctly British obsession: the neurotic checking of the weather forecast. She writes not just about storms, but about the anticipation of storms; the low-pressure systems that hang over relationships and living rooms alike. The book is bookended by two of its strongest pieces. The titular poem, Outside , sets the tone with a sense of sublime dread. She describes the space beyond the window as a living entity: "Outside, the air is older / and knows things." It is a place of risk, but also of honesty. Inside, we lie to ourselves; Outside, the wind doesn't care about your feelings. anna ralphs outside
★★★★☆ (Essential reading for fans of eco-poetry and contemporary British verse) Have you read Outside ? Do you have a favorite poem about the weather? Let me know in the comments below. It is a slim volume, but like a
In poems like Mildew and The Moths , the outside forces its way in—damp, decay, and insects invading the sanctity of the living room. Conversely, in poems like Weathering and Outside , the speaker is drawn out, compelled to walk into gales and rain, finding a strange solace in the brutality of the natural world. She writes not just about storms, but about
It is a slim volume, but like a hard frost, it leaves a lasting impression. Read it with a cup of tea, but don't be surprised if you find yourself pulling on your boots before you reach the last page.
Ralphs captures that distinctly British obsession: the neurotic checking of the weather forecast. She writes not just about storms, but about the anticipation of storms; the low-pressure systems that hang over relationships and living rooms alike. The book is bookended by two of its strongest pieces. The titular poem, Outside , sets the tone with a sense of sublime dread. She describes the space beyond the window as a living entity: "Outside, the air is older / and knows things." It is a place of risk, but also of honesty. Inside, we lie to ourselves; Outside, the wind doesn't care about your feelings.
★★★★☆ (Essential reading for fans of eco-poetry and contemporary British verse) Have you read Outside ? Do you have a favorite poem about the weather? Let me know in the comments below.
In poems like Mildew and The Moths , the outside forces its way in—damp, decay, and insects invading the sanctity of the living room. Conversely, in poems like Weathering and Outside , the speaker is drawn out, compelled to walk into gales and rain, finding a strange solace in the brutality of the natural world.
