A rich collection of poems that take the reader on a deep tour of the psyche. Charting and moving across politics of language, Bell explores love, pain, failure and redemption from a variety of angles. Most of the poems sit at the fragile threshold of instinct and meaning, using symbol and sensation to get to the shock of denouement. From 'Spandex' to the Greek kafeneion, there are unexpected juxtapositions and discoveries to be found in Jessica Bell's 'Fabric'. This voice is equally inspired by the quotidian, Greek jargon words, and the mythic figures of Echo and Narcissus, Aphrodite, and, of course, Euterpe, the muse of music and the lyric. The interstices of the so-called ordinary with the always larger dramas of feeling and its consequences are among the subjects this young poet explores in her vivid weave of language.
Industry Reviews
"A rich collection of poems that take the reader on a deep tour of the psyche. Charting and moving across politics of language, Bell explores love, pain, failure and redemption from a variety of angles. Most of the poems sit at the fragile threshold of instinct and meaning, using symbol and sensation to get to the shock of denouement. This is a significant collection that bears multiple readings, each time yielding something fresh."
Magdalena Ball, author of Black Cow
"Fabric is spun with threads of imagination, realism, and unanswered questions. Jessica Bell weaves from the outer edges of the human condition to the inner tapestry of the mind, sewing through love, trust, and betrayal. Bell is adept with words and imagery; her edgy tone, both daring and tender, seamlessly captures the hearts and
minds of everyday people."
Angela Felsted, author of Cleave
"Mixing both light and dark subjects, Fabric slips as smoothly as silk across the poetry-lover's mind. Bell knows what she's doing, and she won't disappoint with this elegantly textured collection.
Truly a treasure!"
Michelle Davidson Argyle, author of True Colors
"With a deft touch and an acute eye, Jessica Bell weaves humanity into startling vistas, blending the vivid threads of contemporary introspection among a tapestry of tangible scenery. The seamless entwining of the historical with the present, results in a garment the reader may slip on with pleasure, at any moment, and find themselves lost in its intricacies, and more beautiful
for its embrace."
Vicky Ellis, author and poet
