I first became aware of poet Miggy Angel when Jim Gibson, editor of Hand Job literary zine, began singing his praises. Anyone who has ever read an issue of Hand Job will know that Jim Gibson knows his shit when it comes to poetry, so I made a mental note to get my grubby mitts on a copy of his Miggy's debut collection, Grime Kerbstone Psalms. Cut to just over a year later and shamefully it has taken me this long to finally get around to reading it. On the one hand, yes, it was worth the wait, but on the other hand it is so bloody good that I wish I had read it immediately!
Miggy grew up in South London and "lived to tell the tale". Grime Kerbstone Psalms is that tale. A tale of struggle and addiction, of disconnect and indifference, of resilience and recovery, and ultimately one of survival and hope. Miggy's poems cut deep into the soul. They do not so much tug at your heartstrings, but wrap a fist tight around your bloody, beating heart and pull it straight out of your chest. If you ever have one of those days when you're not sure you know how to carry on, when it feels like it would be easier to lay down and give up than to stand up and fight, then those are the days when this book will come in handy. I am not saying it will save your life, don't be absurd, but it will certainly give you a swift kick up the arse. Because if nothing else Grime Kerbstone Psalms is a testament to the power of words, and a poignant reminder that life will kick the shit out of you if you let it, so don't let it. In the words of Miggy himself, YOU are the riot you seek.
Grab a copy right now from Celandor Books.
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