Walking a Line

A collection of poems by Tom Paulin, who is also known as an essayist and from his appearances on television and radio. The title of the book is taken from a statement by the modernist painter Paul Klee. Klee/clover -- History Of The Tin Tent -- Linda Nicklin -- The New Year -- Matins -- The Lonely Tower -- Painting The Carport -- Middle Age -- The Firhouse -- L -- Almost There -- Unnatural Object -- Macaulay Jail -- Wisdom's Dark Grove -- Kevin O'higgins And The Justice Squad -- 51 Sans Souci Park -- Kinship Ties -- The Rooks -- Don't -- Naif -- Serial Lover In The Woodyard -- Hegel And The War Criminals -- A Poor Useless Creature -- Painting With Sawdust -- On The Windfarm -- Palestinian Free State -- The Other England -- What's Natural -- Priming The Pump. Portnoo Pier -- American Light -- Circumstantial -- Going Back To The Sand Cabin -- A Taste Of Blood -- A Hard Sell -- Sparrowgrass -- The Bargain Bed -- Loyal As Ever -- A Last Gesture -- A Belfast Bildungsroman -- The Ivy Restaurant -- The Natural Order -- Across The Howrah Bridge -- Soldier And Packman -- The Sting -- Air Plane -- Basta -- Cadmus And The Dragon -- That's It. Tom Paulin. Poems. Tom Paulin's new collection appears just a year after his Selected Poems 1972-1990, of which Edwin Morgan wrote: 'It will serve to consolidate Paulin's reputation as an incisively original and dedicated poet.' In Walking a Line, Paulin combines his customary intellectual drive with a new, bracingly airy, lyrical and logical playfulness. The title of the book is taken from a statement by Paul Klee, and the great Swiss Modernist presides over its contents as a sort of guardian angel