Dan Hartigan’s debut collection of poetry is a poignant and evocative celebration of the lives of houses themselves, and the lives that pervade them. The poet/builder uses vivid imagery and emotional depth as tools that bring to life the various buildings and the characters within them. The houses reveal glimpses of the lives that have passed through them and the stories that have been embedded in their walls, serving as a metaphor for the fragility of the personal inner and wider world.
With humour, literary references, wordplay, use of form, and thought-provoking themes, this book invites the reader to reflect on the many ways in which our homes can hold the shape of our lives and define our existence. Each re-read of a poem is a renovation itself, opening up unique perspectives on the beauty, mystery, and power of the houses that surround us. An essential new and exciting poetic voice for anyone who has ever called a house their home, and for those who are curious about the interplay between the built environment and the human experience.