House Anthems by Ralph Dartford, a Review by Ewan Lawrie

House Anthems

Ralph Dartford

Published by Valley Press 

I know some of Ralph’s work from what he has shared on ABCTales.com. Always thoughtful, with significant depth of feeling and honesty, his poems are sculpted from blocks of language until what is left is poetry that is both striking and meaningful. 

I am particularly impressed with ‘House Anthems’, the final  collection in his ‘Recovery Trilogy’. The playlist Ralph has curated to accompany this book of poems is suitably eclectic, ranging from Vaughan Williams via Tom Waits with punk and Basildon New Romantics in between. I read the poems first. Then I read them again whilst listening to the music on the playlist. Both experiences were different, and worth the effort. 

Ralph’s moving introduction, recounting the death of his younger brother to whom ‘House Anthems’ is dedicated, may be best read after reading the poems, for some. However, I found it deeply illuminating, so I’m glad I read it first. 

Ralph opens with The Mourning Prayer, deceptively simple, yet complex. 

            This murdered worst,

            where the undertow brews

            before a breaking dawn

is just beautiful. 

Any Old Jerusalem - with its description of a pre-pill society and bathtub abortions. paints a vivid  picture of a long gone England, that shows nostalgia for the rose-tinted lie it is. 

            Gloria and her boy from Des Moines.

            that morning of God, the evening of gin.

            Waving him off at Tilbury Docks. A baby in the bin.

There is so much of himself in this writer’s poetry. A knowledgeable or curious reader could perhaps pinpoint his birth year: he evokes a sense of time and place effortlessly with pithy details like Esso Coins and a rented Rediffusion colour TV.  

Some of the most moving poetry has come out of Ralph’s work with the young and not so young people on the margins of society, either making their way back to it or trying to find a route out of the dumping grounds that are today’s prisons. Other poets like Mike Garry have mined this particular area and Dartford’s empathy – and a sense of there but for the Gods of Good Fortune go I, is palpable. Check out ‘Merge’ in particular,  for this.

I should mention ‘Act’ which is my personal favourite of all Ralph’s Poems: which I have read many times since I first came across it. Part ambiguous love-hate letter and part call to arms for Basildon, I suspect Ralph has it as a cornerstone/centrepiece at any live readings he does.

            Take your purpose proud, fight for it with absolute love. Act

            now, not tomorrow!

When I read in the introduction that the poet realised that all the poems had been about his late brother, I must confess to a certain doubt about that. I was proved wrong. Not an uncommon experience. There are always two poems on the page, the one the reader reads and the one the poet wrote. Sometimes, they can be the same. 

‘The Evening Prayer’ is a beautiful ending to this collection. I like to think Ralph’s brother Joseph’s spirit heard it, wherever it is we go, when we’ve gone. 

            But sleep now, brother. Dream wild

            with me and I will write your name again.

            Joseph. It’s not too late to steal time.

Excellent work from a master craftsman. Buy it, you won’t regret it. 

Link to pre-order:

https://www.valleypressuk.com/shop/p/house-anthems?rq=Ralph%20Dartford