Simon Smith's Mercury comprises three sections or "books" filled with his characteristic gem-like poems. As with his earlier collection Reverdy Road, Smith's poems demonstrate tremendous wit and profundity tempered by lightness of touch. This is a wonderfully accessible collection which casts a knowing eye on Roman classics and contemporary life.
This remarkable new volume sports the brevity and cheek of Martial's epigrams, providing the excuses and occasions - Mercury is a book of pith, turning on an urban-knowing wit, a rag-bag of flip, it embraces the complexities of ordinary language and expression. Veracity sounded through fleeting moments; these are poems that say difficult things simply.
Mercury is Simon Smith's third full-length volume of poetry.
On Reverdy Road:
"When asked to name my favourite Salt book for 2003 my answer was Simon Smith's Reverdy Road ... it was such a surprise ... reading so many [images] together, they exploded into clarity ..." -Tim Allen, Terrible Work
"Smith is master of the deceptively casual poem.... At its best ... [his] use of the short form over so many pages achieves an effect comparable to a villanelle." -Simon Coppock, Poetry Review
"The Jack Lemmon of English poetry." -Geraldine Monk
- ISBN10 128117274X
- ISBN13 9781281172747
- Publish Date 1 March 2006
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 26 February 2014
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Salt Publishing
- Format eBook
- Pages 176
- Language English