One of the great 'undiscovered' post-war British poets, Nigel Gerrans' sixty-year creative journey was marked by personal reflection, piercing observation and eclectic spirituality. This generous selection, made in 2014 by the author's long-time friend and collaborator Felix Hodcroft, offers readers new and old the best possible overview of this remarkable body of work.


From the call to action of 'Night Express' to the modern-day tragedy of 'Patient X', from the small triumphs of 'At Her Own Pace' to the biting satire of the previously-unpublished 'Ballad of Ted and Joan', Gerrans meets the world's gaze squarely, never failing to ask the 'necessary question' or skilfully articulate its answer. Finally, and in full, there is 'Song Sequence', a unique blend of passion and philosophy that has been a lifetime in the making; arguably the poet's crowning achievement.


It Is I Who Speak is a book filled with energy; a fascinating and vital record of a wonderful writer; a collection of poems that will not fail to move and astonish all those who engage with them.