Poems that arrive like gentle reminders that life is happening — right now, right here — and it’s trying to tell you something. Following the quiet cult success of Julian of Norwich’s Teabag — described by Bono in the New York Times as his ‘favourite book no one’s heard of’ — poet and broadcaster Martin Wroe returns with this luminous new collection. His work bridges the spiritual and the secular with the grace of someone who’s not trying to win an argument — it just tells the truth beautifully and often makes you laugh along the way. This breath that calls to stillness This heart that holds a universe This fleeting understanding That both are still expanding Every day is a poem. The trees bowing to each other in the breeze. The cyclist pedalling through the air. That song about you on the radio. A robin waiting for you to answer her question. A loved one whose life is disappearing. Poem or prayer, psalm or song, all the same exercise in getting silence to cough up some truth. Every day is a poem. And everyone we meet.  This heart does not exist This heart is a metaphor This heart is a poem The truest thing of all

Table of Contents:
THIS HEART This heart     10 This heart that holds a universe     11 This now    Terra Divina (William Blake remix)     14 Robin     15 Blackbird     15  Swallow     16  Parliament     16  And also with you     17 Nature poem     18  Iceberg     19 I never knew     20  Glorious weather     21  The end of myself     22  Surround sound     23  Tent     24 This here    It arrives     28  Noises off     29 Pane     30 Location     31  Now     32 ‘Vast new reserves discovered’     33  Grumbling     35 Here’s the thing     36 Everyday election     37  No charge     38  Rhythm with blues     39  Detectorist     40 Each day     41 You are being held in a queue     42   This love    Everyone a candle     46  First person (Poem on Mother’s Day)     47 Old friends     48 Call the midwife     50  My third marriage     51  If you liked this …     53 Being there     54 Who’s Elvis?     55 Legacy     56 Assemble     57 I would love to live     58 This way    Prayer heard outside court at the immigration hearing     62  The repair shop     63 On guard     64 Out in the back     65  The squeeze     66  Bubble     67 Product recall     68  Thoughts and prayers     69 Sink     70 Poem started on a birthday     71 Taking my prayers for a walk     72 This story  Tradition     74  Fear not     75 The book     76 Gazing at a star (Christmas poem)     77 Ring out the old     78 Spiritual not religious     79  Epiphany     80 How to become an insider     81 Forty (Poem in Lent)     83 easter revolution     84 Church noticeboards     86  Priest     87 Retreat     89 The day the weeks meet     90 More     92 This end   A quiet word     94  Elastic snap     96 Spring     97 Taking mum to the doctor     97  Hazardous     98 One in the morning     99  Home from home     100 My back has gone     102 Affronted     103 What are we going to do?     104  Unlock     105 Lowering     106 Same seat as you     107 Seven blessings when you lose someone you love  (A funeral poem)     108  Alive     110 Scattering     111 The light we shared (A parting poem)     112 Fall     113 Gone     113 Sign of the peace     114 This home    Life writing     116  Catch     116 Why the rule?     117 Stand     118 Candle     119 Warmth     120 The fix     120 Guidance     121 This is a poem about death     122  Almost nothing     123 Life, a customer satisfaction survey     124 Call it     126 Psalm 23 (remix)     127 (Psalm for a) home     128 Listen now!     129 Thankful     130 This life (Some afterwords)     131 Sources and acknowledgements     137