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Animated Nature - Selected Poems by Richard Bonfield 1989-2009
Coypu Publications 270 pages £14.99 (P&P waived to Reachers)
Available from the author at 18 Poppy Close, The Maltings Leicester LE2
6UR email [email protected] Cheques payable to
Richard Bonfield

To open this book is to step into an enchanted world. Nearly 200 poems
grace the magical pages, selected from previous collections, A Bestiary,
Swan for all Seasons, and Menagerie, together with over 100 published,
uncollected poems. It is the culmination of 20 years gifted, award
winning writing. Richard has had a lifelong, impassioned love of nature
and our planet’s creatures. He has great empathy with the plight of
several species and engages with various animal charities – Swan for all
Seasons supported the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust. His current
collaboration is with the Born Free Foundation, and The Pollyanna
Pickering Foundation, which arose after Virginia McKenna was moved
by his ‘The Beautiful Alphabet’. Last year Richard became the
Foundation’s Poet in Residence. It speaks of a world we shall have if we,
mankind, do not mend our ways and change our perception of life on this
planet,

                     “What were Tigers”, said the child...
                       They had tails like a daisy chain of bumblebees...
                        and they weaved themselves through the weft of the jungle”

The child continues to ask about the elephants and dolphins: “Where have
they gone?” and her mother answers “They have buried themselves in our
imagination” and talks of “this sad and empty earth”.

Exquisite illustrations pepper the book, sitting in perfect harmony with
the poetry -drawings taken from Victorian engravings and woodcuts,
found in one of those serendipitous moments. Richard’s writing draws on
a rich font of knowledge encompassing Egyptology, Nordic Myths,
Paganism, Religious Philosophy, traditional poets, and much more...and
pours forth in beautiful, sometimes quirky, rhymed lyrical verse – groups
of haiku weave through the pages. He is deeply spiritual, in touch with
his soul and universal synchronicity, and sees his work as the unfolding
of a spiritual task. In ‘Elephant’ he tells of their demise due to the ivory
trade. In ‘Do Not Go Gently’ he exposes the fate of the polar bear:

                   ....Walking on frosty eggshells
                  ....He rages under the borealis
                   ...Against the dying of the ice.

Many creatures receive his loving touch. The ‘Cheetah’ ‘Her pistons
bathed in gracile oil / Her watch-spring movements tightly coiled’.
The ‘Manatee’, ‘The cow that swims on water wings / Munching the
salad dressing of the Everglades’. The ‘Hedgehog’:

                 ..Carelessly studded
                   With dead September leaves 
                 ..in an off the hedgerow number

He writes about the insect world: ‘Praying Mantis’, ‘part Heath
Robinson...all paperclips and jaws’; the realms of sea creatures and
birds, the kingfisher -Pollyanna’s cover design – his totemic symbol:

                      Electraglide in blue and green
                      I caught him on the edge of light

 He writes of Christ, The Goddess, 911, Auschwitz, Ted Hughes, John
Clare and others: of trees, and mythical creatures – the diversity is
impressive. Many poems show his ‘twinkle in the eye’ wit e.g. ‘Mark
Anthony’s Ode to Cleopatra’s Bottom’. The final poem entitled ‘ The
Born Free Alphabet’ shows a new vision for mankind and the animals of
our precious planet. His poetry informs us; raises awareness; touches our
hearts, and tickles our fancy. It is far more than a collection of poetry, it
is a journey across earth with awakened understanding, and as Richard
says:

   “when our various journeys are done it is Love that has ultimately
     informed our thoughts, desires, and actions, for it is Love that moves the
     sun and moon, the stars and all the other hemispheres”.