Muted Serenades

I got back to poetry by reading this book. The poems are beautifully written and they create astonshing images. I liked how it wasn't the kind of contemporary poetry that doesn't make any sense, but it was clear and straightforward. I had my doubts about this book, but it was a beautiful, lyrical surprise.

The first noticeable thing about “Muted Serenades: The Collected Poems” is the sharp and striking book cover of the thin startled old man, astonished or frightened. This illustration detailed from the Battle of Britain monument, London. Besides the untitled beginning, the poetry is divided into the following sections: TEA GARDEN SUMMER, SSDD, ENGLISH GOTHIC. Frank Dillion is a practicing British attorney, and writes poetry in his spare time.

A simple welcoming greeting covers the introduction, and “Apollo Memoires” is the recall of an 8 year old boy, of rocket ships and servant robots. The mystery and intrigue of London is captured in the various scenic weather and environmental details, the gusts of rain (Wuthering), grey cloudy skies—naturally, the steam and mist of London fog (Autumn Dawn). The sea and the boats and ferries across the water sound inviting.
Driving At Twilight: is told in 8 parts, I-III - remembering and attempting to understand, uniting with loved ones. IV-Driving through London low houses, dive bars, the wasteland of shuttered factories. Further obsessional thoughts, meaningless purchases, blank attention of things left unsaid. VII-(from the book) It’s hard to see clearly/In the fog of twilight/In the soft hued hours of evening/Contemplating the gloom. VIII- closing with the memory of essence.
There is a large body of confessional of love and longing of a romantic connection. The Epiphany of Joseph Grand-- recalls a love that grew tired and seemed to run out of steam. “No Future”- “Haters Gonna Hate” – “Confessional” –“There Will Be Nothing” – “She and Her Ilk”- “October”. Much was written about the difficulty, missed chances, of one side of love being strong and true and the other side not as much. “Metaphors In Techinicolor” highlight the pleasures of golden hair, the bluest eyes, the perfumed fragrance of love in bloom. On the other hand, it is easy to sympathize that a love relationship may not work out the way anticipated or hoped for—with the addition of “Going” - “Vindication. Oblique. Diatribe.”

It wouldn’t be easy to select a favorite poem from this impressive inspirational collection. “Postcard From Liverpool” - Nostalgia In Derby Square” - “Brunswick Street, Early July” - “With The Beatles” – further celebrate scenic English places, custom, and culture.
Dillion saved one of the best story poems for last. Following “Night Watchman” is the untitled 10 part poem: I- this begins with a night watchman along a river of tide tables, cargo, also a ferryman. II- With remainders of WWII, the crushing death of men and horses. The earth was connected to himself and the children through a vision. III-The calm water, mists arising from the riverbanks. IV- Death to those who bring war-- let the people be free from the destruction. V- Bombers who bring fire. VI- Pondering the acts of war. VII-A war movie. VIII- The life unconquered in the spirit of the people. IX- A box of memories that include a bullet casing, French franc’s, a photograph of his platoon—kept by an elderly man. (This verse provided a possible link to the old man on the cover of the book.) By the closing and final part the old man was quietly sipping his tea. X- The grief and mourning, among the steely nerve, as the rebuilding of the city began following war. ~ With thanks and appreciation to Troubador Publishing Ltd. via NetGalley for the DRC for the purpose of review.

Muted Serenades: The Collected Poems by Frank Dillon is a collection of poems influenced by other poets. Dillon is a practicing lawyer but outside the courtroom, much of his writing to date has been in the field of comedy. His lifelong passion, though, has been the writing of poetry. His work uses transparent language and a variety of forms to communicate a wide range of themes.

This collection is divided into four sections. Across the sections, I was impressed with the author’s use of color. Dillon captures color as a source imagery. He discusses color on a painter's palette. Three shades of gray to which most people would seem the same but there is a difference to the artist making them different and important. Gray is a word used throughout the collection and Dillon makes a strong association with the color and cold, stone, and near depression.

Grey is countered by yellows, greens, the sun, and nature. There is an explosion of color when needed. This is the strongest point in the collection. Simple observations filled with vivid colors. His attempts with rhyme are overdone and seem amateurish. This, however, may or may not be a part of capturing another poet’s style. The poems on relationships are hit and miss. His nature and seasonal observations make up for the mishaps. “The Window that Overlooks the Garden” is an excellent example of Dillon tying everything together.

“Driving At Twilight” is an eight-part poem that is the centerpiece of the first section. Capturing the twilight-- gray turning to black interrupted by the yellow light of evenings glow. There is a beauty that is disturbed by advertising, signs or the radio, promising empty grandeur.

It’s difficult to tell
Where this road might lead
Under sodium lights
At the close of the day

A solid collection of poetry that could have been better edited, but the where the poetry worked it shined.

As poetry, as words-as-sounds-as-song, this was somewhat mediocre (although Dillon's style did improve over the course of the collection). More complicated words felt shoehorned in, and the overall tone felt a little clunky.

But as poetry, as a nod from one faltering person to the next, well. Sometimes I was entirely unmoved. But sometimes I caught a glimpse of something- a swaggering teenage boy in sunglasses, an older man trying to put a deep, lingering ache into words- that made me want to drop into the snippets of memory captured in the poems and hang out with the characters for a while. And that, along with the occasional bit of political bite, made it worth the read.

Standard fair war poetry. Nothing amazing, but some good bits here and there.