Pamela Gormally

Knucklebones and Pegs

Haunted by memories of a life-threatening illness in early childhood, Pamela Gormally weaves truth and honesty into this life-affirming collection, using sharp observation and beautiful imagery to create a warm mix of a real life, with all its shades and hues, its questions and unpredictable landscapes.

Knucklebones and Pegs explores the effects of early childhood cancer, separation, loss and a lifetime’s journey of healing and transformation. Her love and understanding of nature shines through, anchoring the poems, and offering glimpses of a world that connects us and gives us all hope.

ISBN 978-1-912876-93-8

Paperback

56 pages

£9.50 +P&P

THE AUTHOR

Pamela Gormally has an M.A. in Creative Writing from Newcastle University and has had poems published in many journals. She won first prize in the Sonnet or Not competition 2022 and third prize in the Hippocrates Poetry and Medicine competition in the same year. Pamela lives in Alnwick, Northumberland.

‘Knucklebones and Pegs’ is her debut collection.

“Knucklebones and Pegs is delicate and thoughtful, a collection of tenderness and beauty. While shadows of illness are explored unflinchingly, the collection is full of life-affirming celebrations of the colours and richness of life. a sense of wonder in exquisite moments: ‘Winter light pours honey down the terrace’. These are hard-won poems of grace which give us a new and striking poetic voice.”

~ Pippa Little

“Full of vivid memories, rich with sensual detail of colour, smells, plants and animals. She captures human behaviour too, hints of trauma, snapshots of moments in a long life, all imbued with understated yet powerful emotion. This collection intrigues: the poems pull you in and bring joy. A wonderful collection."

~ Ellen Phethean