Podcasts Culture Louise reads poems Song of the West Men

Song of the West Men

Published: Nov. 23, 2020, 3:33 p.m.

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I have a weakness for repeated words and alliteration and I find both in Song of the West Men by Simon Armitage. 

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Armitage makes use of a repeating form "the far of the far ... the isles of the isles ... the rocks of the rocks" that provides a strong energy as I read and I feel almost like I\'m flying with the words.  

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When the pattern changes (\'weave of the waves\' or \'bones of his bones/were cooler than stone\') other forms become apparent, sometimes alliteration, sometimes rhyme or part rhyme. The poem makes me wait a beat, and then lets me charge along with the words again.  

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I enjoy the motion of these words as I unfold them.

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