Close and Slow: ‘A Flowering Absence’ by John Montague

A Weekly Appreciation of Poetry

**Warning: this week’s poem contains one instance of very strong language¹, and also deals with issues of childhood trauma, adoption and displacement**

Many of us feel a bit inadequate when it comes to reading poetry, perhaps suspecting that there is some higher learning or personal initiation required to appreciate verse. ‘Close and Slow’ is a regular fe…