This Small Patch sees Jarrow-born Tom Kelly examining the town’s history as he tries to make sense of the past, his life and times.

 

He now lives further up the Tyne at Blaydon. This is his ninth collection and eighth published by Red Squirrel Press.

 

Reviews of previous collections:

 

‘Tom Kelly has Jarrow in his bones and his poems are shaped by the past. There is heartache and pain within these short, plainly-written poems.’

 

—Ambit

 

‘These are vivid, compelling and often beautiful poems, by turns sad and uplifting, that certainly deserve a wide readership.’

 

—Poetry Book Society

 

‘Kelly writes with an uncomfortable rawness and directness…and honesty we are much in need of.’

 

—Critical Survey

 

‘There is poetic approach akin to the wood engraver Bewick, of a landscape bleaker by far than his.’

 

—Other Poetry

 

‘Kelly is insistent that we must stare at how we relate to one another. We must keep memory alive so we can learn how to transform our relationships.’

 

—M Q B

Please contact us.