“A greeting that not only gives great pleasure but illuminates our lives—like a message in a bottle.”—Robert McCrum, writer and editor

“Ten Poems about Brothers” is a title in the “Instead of a Card” series, based on the idea that sending a greeting card is a lovely gesture, and sending a booklet of poetry an even more meaningful one.

In this wonderful mini-anthology of poems celebrating brothers (a companion to “Ten Poems about Sisters”) we meet brothers of all ages and of all shapes and sizes, including the brother who:

“has made, out of petrol and hormones,
a little world for himself, a paradise
of hang-gliders and cars...”
—Ben Scammell, “My Lost Brother”

There’s also a young brother who loves riding down the stairs on a tea-tray and teenage brothers who are so alike they even smell the same. There are brothers who grow up and disappear into a new life, living on vividly in the memories of those left behind.

The relationship with a brother can be a complex one, and these poems explore those joys and challenges in fascinating ways. But most of all they reflect the abiding love we feel for a brother and show how this can enrich a life.

Each pamphlet is gorgeous both inside and out, beautifully produced with a cardstock cover, Ex Libris bookplate, and a bookmark gift enclosure with space for an inscription to the recipient.

With a cover created by a leading contemporary artist and poems hand-picked to speak to every kind of reader, each “Instead of a Card” title offers a richly rewarding reading journey. Produced using biodegradable and sustainable materials.

Poems by Matthew Dickman, Jonathan Edwards, Lavina Greenlaw. Joanne Limburg, Hannah Lowe, Rebecca McClanahan, Rob Miles, Mary O'Donnell, Ben Scammell, Floyd Skloot; poems selected by Di Slaney. Cover illustration by Hilke MacIntyre.

Dimensions 5.5" x 8.25". 20 printed pages.