We are delighted to announce the release of our second special Three Trees Edition, Because of the War by Aziz Dixon.
Available worldwide from the 26 June 2020, Because of the War is a poignant debut featuring a moving collection of poems in which the poet explores his own response to war whilst championing peace and love. This is quite simply a beautiful and, at times, heartbreaking book that both challenges and questions our history and future.
The cover features the stunning image, Remembrance by Marsden based photographer, Ian Ladbrooke. The photograph was taken at the Marsden Memorial placed on Pule Hill – also home for Simon Armitage’s Snow Poem – and features two local characters who had completed the steep climb to pay their respects. We’re delighted to have been able, through the wonders of social media, to have traced both these gentlemen and look forward to presenting them and their families with copies of the book when it’s safe to do so.
During the writing of the book, Aziz also worked with composer, Nathan Pallotto to create a new work for the Leeds Lieder Festival.
The poem Remont features as a centre point in the book and we’re delighted to be able to share both the Music and the score with you below. You can find out more about Nathan from his website nathanpallatto
Because of the War is now available both direct from Aziz and online from our store.
Aziz will be hosting an intimate online launch on Saturday 4 July – please contact Aziz direct via his Facebook page if you’d like an invite to the celebration AzizDixonPoet
To find out more about our Three Trees Editions take a look at our previous post Three Trees Edition
Follow the link for the sheet music – Pallotto-Remont-
Remont
Road works, Tuzla
Hooded crow cracks open
a walnut skull. Stray dogs
trip the watchmen who work
on the road. Gang-woman
harangues the three
who dig. Six look on,
drag on a fag, as the driller
cuts the water supply.
This place rebuilds itself
between genocides. Today
it is sunny. Nobody
bombs the blocks in this street,
leaves us without food
or water for months.
Anderson shelter
Rust on the sill
ghosts the lock.
Stairs long since rotted
into the chalk. Soil whispers
through gaps in your memory.
Corrugated iron slips
where the fox had her cubs.
Your Midas bottles still in crates
hug the walls, prop the ceiling,
vintage labels curl, crumble.
These wines your grave goods,
treasures for a civil service
warrior, now lost
in pre-digital archives.
About the Author
Originally a student of archaeology, Aziz turned for inspiration to natural and historic landscapes, particularly Pennine and Welsh. More recently he has been drawn to the landscapes of the heart, and to a search for meaning in patterns of family behaviour.
Because of the war is his first published collection.
