Foreword By Daniel O ’ Connor
Bodies are often shy to slip into words , or unruly enough to tussle out of them . Here we are , after so many thousands of years of talking , still trying to squeeze a head through a noun or to stretch some verb over a restless limb . But it ’ s the attempt that ’ s interesting , and here we have wonderful writing that makes sense – however provisional – of what a body is or does , or isn ’ t , or doesn ’ t do . From bodies actual to unreal , in life and death , in states of joy and distress , in essays , poems and stories , there are so many arresting images and phrases collected here , so many inventive and fresh ways of considering these strange things we live as . Our bodies can become so adept at going about its business that until something is awry we can often forget about it : but here is writing that is awake to the whole thing , prodding , investigating , watching ‘ the way the bone works at the meat of you ’ as Jessica Bex says , discovering again what it ’ s like to encounter a body , whether it ’ s your own or not . It ’ s also a reminder – as if we needed reminding – of how much incredible writing is being produced in the Department of English at the University of Liverpool . This is only the tip of the iceberg , but what a tip it is ! It ’ s mightily impressive to see such variety , but also such consistency : deep , inventive engagement with Jacob Scott memorably describes as ‘ my / organ loft / body .’ Not only this , it is also a sign for each of these writers in their respective forms of even greater things to come .