HAIKU HIGH AND LOW Anarchios Press Limited edition 100 copies signed £5

A score or more

Alexis Lykiard's new booklet of haiku Haiku High and Low (Anarchios Press, £3.50) is full of this poet's vim and vigour - raging and reflective at turns this is poetry to make you think - then to agree, or disagree, with the poet's outlook as you will - I doubt if he'd care... Some of the poems are rather parochial, but wonderful if you understand - two examples; Yorkshire Fielders then Slices of Life (BBC Radio 4, 22/4/17) 

'Brian Close would be
right up his bottom' - Boycott
scoffs at one Short Leg

Pinter's Betrayal’s
a cold dish - Dame Bakewell's tart
tailpiece proved dull too

 Away from the rage there is the gentle...  A poem that would be a great addition to a long overdue republication of his cat-themed book Cat Kin (Sinclair-Stevenson. £6.99 - 1994, if you can find a copy...) is Rufus Cat; 

The Ginger Rajah's
ruling us, having survived
that rogue fox attack 

Much admired sleeper,
he arches long, sleek-furred back
and purrs languid peace

Kevin Bailey - HQ Poetry Magazine