"This poet shows a flair for the aesthetic as well as unusually juxtaposed ideas... clever poetic technique and beautiful sensual imagery." Elaine Feeney, Judge of the 2011 Over the Edge New Writer of the Year Competition. "Very substantial and exact... a lovely exchange, a way of continuing life." David Constantine Hands To smooth the hair, to hush the lips To squeeze the flesh below the hips To feed the fire in small degrees To test the strength of no and please To seize the book, to mark the page To slam it shut and bar the cage To spring the bird, to melt the snow To linger on what too few know To smudge the ink, to white the lines To blunt the edge and blur the signs To skip the stone or fling it wide To catch what falls or tries to hide To blind the eyes, to free the will To pull the trigger or keep still