I am quite partial to stars, particularly North Stars, so I was keen to read this poetry book. Demelza writes very lyrically, with a keen eye to structure and rhyme. She is not the meandering type, she’s taking you straight to the stars.
I was entranced with the poem To Follow a Star: It took me on a journey from Banbury all the way to the North East and evoked a pleasant memory of a white horse on a hill. Demelza takes inspiration from local myth and stars, blending them together in a very charming way. Little Bear is a particularly good example of this.
As the sun faded
The river glistened
Enticingly…
In the murky, moonlight mist
It’s got an ethereal quality, almost as if you’re sitting with the characters of Wind in the Willows or Watership Down, and they’re inviting you to tea while regaling you with tales, but in song form.
Did you know that wasn’t a glowbug
You saw… It was the fairies on the hill?
If you’re a fan of whimsy, fairytales and magic, this really is the poetry book for you. It’s got witches, fairies, even pirates, which are a firm favourite of mine.
If I could be a pirate
I’d be a pirate of the river
I’d gather all the rubbish in it
And to its owners I’d deliver
On the surface the book is very upbeat but there are also important underlying messages of our environment, of old tales that should not be forgotten.
I’d love to hear some of these poems spoken aloud: Weather Giant of Roseberry Topping is a notable example of this. I can imagine that it would ring out with verve and rhythm.
Some of the poems come with an author’s note which I thought was a wonderful addition. More of this please!
In summary, Finding My North Star is a delightful journey of whimsy, sending us up and down the British Isles. It’s quiet, it’s warm and it’s full of passion. It would make a wonderful addition to any bookshelf. I award 5 stars.
