In Search Of A Subject

Travelling is like learning another language in the sense that once you've had the experience you never want to be without it.

As a child, John already felt a strong desire to see the world and have experiences beyond the small environment that his family inhabited. As explained in the title poem 'In Search of a Subject' he was a semi-detached scribe hungry for experiences he could write about.

Unsurprisingly then, the second section of the book is titled 'Endless Travel' and documents a few moments and adventures from his past (or misspent youth).

The third and final section is more reflective, and in the poem 'No Trace' he finds himself returning to old haunts many years later only to find that everything has changed. This section also touches on themes of love, which knocked him off course, and unavoidably, the topic of Covid (though kept to a minimum).

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"John Short's 'In Search of a Subject' has the effect of a Bildungsroman as we chart his progress through life from his upbringing in post-war Liverpool through school, university and subsequent travels in Europe.

While he is not the first to have followed such a trajectory, these highly enjoyable poems are distinguished by a clear-eyed focus, his fine ear for a cadence and an innate sense of form.

They are moving, memorable and utterly convincing. By virtue of their unassuming finesse and exemplary restraint, they are a pleasure to read."

David Cooke

The High Window