MARY SHEEPSHANKS
© Joan Russell at Guzelian
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| Cover illustrations by Graham Rust Sample Poetry |
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Patterns in the Dark
£5.00ISBN: 1870556011 ‘Mary Sheepshanks’ poems greatly interest numerous subscribers to this magazine…she has the peculiar knack of making what others might regard as easy versifying into moving poetry.’ Brian Merrikin Hill for Pennine Platform |
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Thinning Grapes
£6.50ISBN: 0906744210 ‘A talented poet…her work in this collection is always tuneful, imaginative and accessible ... an attractive collection:' Michael Bangiter for New Hope International Online ‘Mary Sheepshank uses a number of voices throughout this collection, each discernibly her own, so that we feel that we know her: warm, humorous, with a faith that is not afraid to ask questions, a woman with a relish for living, who has had the habit of happiness but has learnt to acknowledge grief' Barbara Rennie for Envoi |
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Kingfisher Days
£5.00ISBN: 0906744172 ‘Much poetry is a halfway stage between prose and music and that is an apt description of Mary Sheepshanks’ poems. As in her novels, there is also story-telling, characterisation and a wicked sense of humour…Mary Sheepshank is original in her thinking and the way she expresses her thoughts…There are poems that should be read again and again’ Mabel Ferret of The Pennine Poets |
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Dancing Blues to Skylarks
£6.00ISBN: 090674427X ‘I respond immediately to Mary Sheepshanks’ very human reactions. Her skilful poems spice sharp observation, sensuousness and painful subject matter with wit and humour. Dancing Blues to Skylarks should have a wide appeal and win over those who mutter they can’t understand poetry. Myra Schneider ‘Mary Sheepshanks’ poems are readily accessible. She writes as her title Dancing Blues to Skylarks suggests, about a countryside she loves and watches with intelligence and sympathy. She writes, too, about the homely everyday world we all inhabit and often think too trivial to put into verse. After a flood, when “ the river, furtive as a guilty dog,/slinks back to bed again” she dries the carpets out and thinks of Mrs Noah “unsung heroine of another flood”, with Noah holding forth (“plumped by prophesy”) and “ those teenage sons with silly names”. These are poems to be read with pleasure, and to be shared and read aloud. The danger of whimsy is kept firmly at bay by a down-to-earth self-mockery…. The witty Best Foot Forward is the love story of Miss Skidmore, a chiropodist; it gallops along like the lightest of Betjeman. And there’s a splendid – if rather alarming – piece about a python (“unlikely guest in Kensington”) at a children’s party. As for Christmas Round Robins we no doubt all share her feelings about these, and other contemporary absurdities in Working Out. There’s certainly room for Mary Sheepshanks on my shelves.’ Dr RV Bailey for ENVOI ‘Sheepshanks writes with great feeling about human individuals, as well as classical music. She also reveals a knack of writing skilful humorous verse…. Form and style are mostly traditional, with many deftly handled assonances and true rhymes.’ Susanna Roxman for New Hope International Online |
All poetry is available from:
45 Middlethorpe Drive York YO24 1NA
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 © Sue Leedale at Garfdale Photography Mary reading her poetry at a concert performance at The Georgian Theatre, Richmond, North Yorkshire in May 2005, with soprano Caroline McCausland and international harpist Jeanette Cordery. |
