One way or another many of us have been producing material during the last year or more which relates directly or otherwise to the situation we have been experiencing. Leaving aside Brexit and the all-embracing facts of climate change the Covid virus has been and will no doubt continue to be a source of energy for writers and artists of all kinds. It feels inevitable in fact and there have already been anthologies of poetry appearing to suggest so. Steven Waling’s new book is a mix of diary entry and personal testimony, combing observation with a collage technique which is very appealing.

ON THIS ROUTE

there’s lots of farting aboutTurning night into day

the sun wants to lie in bedgets up full bladder

rain-packed isobars rumble in from the West

so I wait five minutes at Random Stopten more

at Just Before You Alrightthen flash of hail followed

by the…