Night We Were Dylan Thomas

“Like a great photographer, MARA BERGMANcelebrates the moment and detail at the coreof memory. Together, her poems show the greatchanges families experience – the free and fearlesslife of a young woman set alongside a dying motherhanging on so she can hold a great-grandchild, theone-sided conversations we have with the dead.Her dynamism is infectious – you are drawninto this family’s wonder, love, compassion, griefand happiness. Bergman’s poems remind me ofPablo Neruda’s belief in the driving force of love:‘Hold on to that, don’t let it get away …’ and oneof the fi nal poems, ‘The Happiness’, delivers thebook’s message: ‘Before it leaves, I will bury it deepenough to save.’After reading these poems, you’ll feel braced andready, you’ll feel wiser and more generous, you’llwant to hold on to moments that contain your ownastonishment.”JACKIE WILLS