POETRY SPOTLIGHT: 'Subject Matter Sonnet' by Peter Bakowski and Ken Bolton

 The Elsewhere Variations by Peter Bakowski and Ken Bolton

Today, discover a poem taken from The Elsewhere Variations, a collection by Peter Bakowski and Ken Bolton. This week's poetry feature is 'Subject Matter Sonnet'.

Post written by Poppy Nwosu

Being a newer staff member at Wakefield Press, I am still learning about all the wonderful books we have on offer. So this week, when it came to choose a poet for our Poem of the Week series, I had to request some help!
What book should I look at? Which poet should I read?

I know, right? I can't believe this is my job either. Reading poetry for work! I used to write about workplace health and safety, but am quite pleased about this change of direction.

Publisher and director Michael Bollen pointed me in the direction of The Elsewhere Variations by Peter Bakowski and Ken Bolton. This made me pause. A poetry collection that was written by both Peter Bakowski and Ken Bolton?
One book.
By two poets?
Being endlessly fascinated and confused by collaborations, I had to ask Michael how exactly these two poets managed to write a book together? As a writer myself, I just cannot wrap my head around it. Did they write a poem each? Did they write one line each?
Peter Bakowski's blog explained:

'THE ELSEWHERE VARIATIONS is 48 new poems by Peter Bakowski and Ken Bolton written in a call-and-response manner via email between Peter in Melbourne and Ken in Adelaide, both poets of long standing and long sitting.'
 

Apparently they are very good at this kind of collaboration, because Michael tells me we can expect more collaborations from them in the future!
Down to a Stub, from The Elsewhere Variations by Peter Bakowski and Ken Bolton

'Subject Matter Sonnet' by Peter Bakowski and Ken Bolton

The thing that most struck me about the poem I've chosen as the feature for this week is that it's ... funny. And delightful. I'm not sure how else to describe it.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.
Subject Matter Sonnet, from The Elsewhere Variations by Peter Bakowski and Ken Bolton
Discover more about The Elsewhere Variations on our website (which also has a selection of other works by Ken Bolton, which you can find HERE).

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