It may have taken Anne Tannam forty-four years to write
her first poetry collection Take This Life but she's been gathering
material for it since the day she was born. And she's not fussy about where
she finds her inspiration. It could be in the lyric of a song, or a well
written sentence, a snatch of childish conversation, or the syntax of a poem.
Language
has always fascinated Anne and whatever work she is doing, the importance
of how we tell stories and connect with each other remains a constant. In
her various roles as teacher, lifecoach and parent, language sits centre
stage and endeavouring to employ it honestly and effectively is all in a
day's work.
“Poetry can tell us what human beings are. It can tell us
why we stumble and fall and how, miraculously we can stand up” Maya
Angelou.
When Anne began to write herself, poetry seemed a natural choice
as no other form of writing communicates so succinctly the unique but shared
experience of being human.
Anne has performed her poetry at open mic nights
across Dublin. She has read at the Glór Sessions, Seven Towers Last
Wednesday Series, Wurm in Apfel, The Tongue Box and The Winding Stair. Anne
has performed and discussed her work with Niamh Bagnell on Liffey Sounds.
For
more information on Anne, please visit her website at annetannam.com
Take This Life explores the small things in life that make it special, but
which we often neglect to see. It is a spiritual journey of sharing the oneness
of life.
The poems have been described as more a lyrical conversation than
poetry. They speak to the reader in clever, thought-provoking language, painting
pictures for the mind to hold onto long after the book is left down.
These
are poems that are inspiring, moving, sad and funny, poems that make us feel
we are not alone, that help us to see what's possible and to be comforted.
Here
is a life manual to make you think, appreciate, reflect, and revise……
Praise for Take This Life
"The poems do indeed reflect her life and she takes her inspiration wherever she can find it. This may be the stray lyric of a song, an overheard conversation or a piece of writing. The poems reflect Tannam as a child, a mother, a friend, and simply as a human being. ….. she assembles as array of varied, often provoking images in her poems." BOOKS IRELAND
“I loved it. I smiled as I read. My first emotion was awe that someone could be so personal to the world. What great sharing and a great gift to the reader.”
“Loved the turn of phrase, beautiful expression – particularly emotive in “By the Time I Got There” – very moving.”
“There are so many people that I have thought of as I have
read this book. My Dad, my sister, my brother, my best friend, my other best
friend. Anyone who has experienced a little bit of life. I don't think I
know anyone who couldn't relate or see themselves or “know what you mean” when
they read at least several of your poems. Anyone who has parked their dreams
for a little while, who has experienced love, loss…change ...”
“Many thanks
for the opportunity to read this beautiful collection of poetry. There's
no doubt that the voice here is true, that it soars directly from the heart.
You
have a beautiful turn of phrase and a deftness to your poetry which is rare. Subtle rhymes and
gentle, unpretentious metaphors impress upon the senses".
This
is the real thing. A poet of great integrity".
Rebecca
O'Connor
Title Take This Life
Author Anne Tannam
Subject classification Poetry
Format/extent 140x216 mm, 76 pp
Publication date February 2011
Price €12-00 pb
ISBN 978-1-907017-06-3