Two year ago on a gorgeous summer day, I first encountered Josephine Lay reading poems from her second collection, Unravelling, at Evesham’s Festival of Words. I was so impressed I went straight home and bought a copy. Therefore I’m particularly delighted that Josephine has agreed to drop in to reflect upon a poem from her recently published second collection, A Quietus.

Thank you, Nigel, for inviting me to ‘Drop In’ and discuss a poem from my recent collection A Quietus, published 2021, by Black Eyes Publishing UK.

It took me a while to choose which poem to feature, but finally I decided on Abscission. Abscission, for those who haven’t come across the term, is the process of separation of leaf from tree as the length of day shortens. It’s a natural structural and chemical change at the base of the leaf; the plant creates a layer…