Poems for Pensioners by Andy Seed – Review

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poems for pensioners andy seed book review

By Joe Forshaw

There are over 13 million people in the UK over 65 years of age. 13 million people who it can be said are not in the prime of life. 13 million people who don’t have all their teeth or maybe don’t have any of their teeth. 13 million people who sometimes forget what they were planning to do, who forget to take their pills or, even, forget they have taken their pills and overdose. 13 million people who dream nostalgically of the good old halcyon days of their youth, who mostly still have a sense of humour and can look upon their ailments in a stoic and self-depreciating manner.

I’m one of them – and this collection of poems is for them.

poems for pensioners andy seed book review coverAndy Seed, the author, has a great sense of humour, a keen sense of irony and a sensitivity that enables him to address the challenges of age without distress. He certainly has the ability to ‘look on the bright side of life’. Seed is an accomplished author, already having some 30 books to his name, including the popular All Teachers trilogy of memoirs for adults and a host of children’s books.

“Therapeutic”

In this publication the poems are generally written in rhyming short stanza format, somewhat akin to limericks. The poems are straight to the point, easy to read, succinct, observant and most of all humorous. However, scattered amongst the humour are touches of nostalgia and hints of regret. Whilst some might see old age as nothing to laugh about, one can’t help but laugh when reading some of these poems – and remember laughter is comfortingly therapeutic.

The most entertaining poems on the effects of old age are the self-planetary ‘What Did I Walk Into This Room For?’, ‘Upgrading Granny’, ‘Bus Pass’ and ‘Hairy Tales’. The more nostalgic poems are ‘BHS ( Before Health and Safety)’, ‘Where I Played When I Was Young’ and ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’.

The illustrations are provided by Scott Garrett. They are wonderful cartoon like creations that add immensely to the overall charm of the book.

The book is a short train journey read – but it’s none the worse for that.

‘Poems for Pensioners’ by Andy Seed is published by Valley Press, £7.99 paperback

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