Bright Bursts of Colour, Matt Goodfellow, Illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff, pub. Bloomsbury.
I knew I’d love this book, having seen a few sneak peeks, and I did. I didn’t want to start reading because then I knew I’d get to the end and would regret not being able to read it for the first time again.
Matt has provided a book with bright bursts of his ability to illustrate the essential with the everyday, his sense of humour with the absurd and poignancy with poems that contain a planet-full of empathy.
Many moods, many colours, many laughs – everything you could possibly want in a poetry book, in a range of styles. I enjoyed every single poem. This book is very much recommended. I insist you buy it right now.
Two poems to illustrate Matt’s range below – one that made me laugh, and one that made me cry!
A Special Badger
I’m a special kind of badger
in a special badger den
writing special badger poems
with my special badger pen
learning special badger lessons
in a special badger school
earning special badger kudos
for my special badger cool
wearing special badger badges
saying badgers are the best
passing special badger interviews
and special badger tests
drinking special badger coffee
from a special badger mug
but my special badger problem:
I am actually a slug
Strest
Charlie never cries
not even
when he came down the slide
too fast in Year 5
and broke his wrist.
Miss couldn’t believe it;
he even smiled and waved
to our class across the playground
when Mr Smith drove him off
to hospital.
Charlie never cries
not even
when his gran died –
he was back in school
the next day
said he was fine,
he’d survive –
but you could see it
in the shadows
of his eyes.
Charlie never cries
but when it was time
for the reading paper
we’d
revised
revised
revised
for,
Charlie sighed
flicked through the pages
for ages
put his pen down.
Miss appeared at his side
saying try your best, Charlie
it’s just a test, Charlie
and he looked over at me
and I swear I could see
right inside his mind
and it was dark
and he was hiding
shoulders shaking
and he knew
he couldn’t do
what they wanted
him to do
however hard he tried.
And I’ll never forget
the day of the test,
the day
Charlie
cried.
© Matt Goodfellow
Poetry Roundabout 