I met Dick Dixon at interval drinks for the Great and the Good (not sure which I am) at a recent Brighton Philharmonic concert which I was reviewing. Instead of “Have you come far?” his opening gambit was “Are you interested in books?” And that, of course, hooked me instantly.
We chatted for a while, swapped business cards and the next day I looked at his website (www.dick-dixon.com). Then I ordered his latest book. His claimed genre is humorous poetry although as soon as began to read I noticed that, of course, there’s a wistful undertow in many of them. “The Witching Hour” for example is a sardonic reflection on the process of dying and, while amusing in concept, is quite thoughtful. And “Borrowed Time” is about grief and regret, movingly done.
He uses a range of verse forms and rhyme schemes – some of the latter are sometimes a bit forced but generally it flows effortlessly especially when he’s in Hilaire Belloc mode. I admired “Cousin Prue’s Lament” which comes in six-line stanzas with a technically accomplished ABCCCB rhyme scheme.
And sometimes his writing gleams. I’ll forgive the anti-vegetarian stance of “Bone Cuisine” because he can come up with “Do you harbour inner fires / That stimulate your wild desires / To hoover up pink pork and ham / Fat duck and chicken, shanks of lamb?” Or take “What’s your poison?” in which we’re invited to get “frisky with whisky” or “with sherry make merry.” There’s a hint of Pam Ayres here spliced with, say, a bit of John Betjeman.
I liked “A Mistaken Identity” which is about Helen of Troy and the poet’s search for her. It ends with a pun so groan-worthy that it’s hilarious. “Lazy Susan” (of course it caught my eye) celebrates the whizzy cake stands which are named for people like me. The poem “Appraisal” is effectively an ode to an apple. And as an English teacher how could I not like “Modern Parlance” which wittily hooks together all those ghastly, meaningless expression now favoured by most vernacular speakers and language manglers– innit?
Moreover this jolly book is sumptuosly and liberally illustrated by French artist, Reine Mazoyer. Every one of her full page, brightly coloured interpretations is arresting but I liked her koalas the best – as Dixon reflects on their strange diet or eucalyptus leaves which would poison human beings and other mammals.
Yes, Dick, I AM interested in books. They are the main driver in my life, actually. Witness this eclectic weekly blog now well into its fifth year and my 2023 book All Booked Up which details my personal reading journey and celebrates everything bookish.
Next week on Susan’s Bookshelves: The Choice by Michael Arditti
