Momentary Turmoil

Arresting and intelligent, the first full collection from Robin Thomas exudes wit and warmth. Acutely observed and often wry, Momentary Turmoil abounds with both imaginative leaps and a deeply humane sensibility.

'Loud Carriage'

Passengers are reminded

that we have four loud carriages,

B to E, where you are expected

to cough, sniff and scrunch paper bags,

to talk as loudly as you can and hoot with laughter

at jokes which are devoid of humour.

You should bellow into mobile phones,

shouting details of your divorce,

or why Harry, sitting two seats away,

has to be sacked

or that you are on the train.

If you are quiet in any loud carriage

you will be asked to transfer

to the punishment carriage, F,

where, unless you recant,

you will be required

to write an essay in which are elucidated

the provisions of Magna Carta,

write a villanelle in Latin

and/or compile a report

on the recent downturn

in sales of guttering in Lithuania.

Author Biography

Robin Thomas completed the MA in Writing Poetry at Kingston University in 2012. He has had poems published in a number of journals including Agenda, Envoi, Orbis, Brittle Star, Poetry Salzburg, Poetry Scotland, Pennine Platform, The High Window, South, Stand, Rialto and The Interpreter's House. He has been shortlisted for the Buzzwords, Bridport and Bath Poetry Caf? prizes and is represented in the Stanley Spencer anthology published by Two Rivers Press in 2017. His pamphlet, A Fury of Yellow, was published by Eyewear in November, 2016. His second collection A Distant Hum was published by Cinnamon in 2021.