“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 Hope” 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.

We couldn’t survive without hope—that light at the end of the tunnel which seems to promise “this will pass” when times are hard. These poems offer hope in a whole range of guises—from the uplift of the first signs of spring to the infectious optimism of a child who believes he will live for ever if he eats his greens.

There’s also a poem in which a grandmother’s words become a precious talisman:

“…empty your paradise onto a desk:
your white sands, green hills and fresh fish.
Shine the lamp on it like the fresh hope
of morning, and keep staring at it till you sleep.”
—Roger Robinson, “A Portable Paradise"

Each of these poems is a little chink of light—a reminder that a moment of joy and consolation is always just around the corner.

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 Fleur Adcock, Sujata Bhatt, Arthur Hugh Clough, Katie Dunstan, Kerry Hardie, Winifred Holtby, Roy Marshall, Paula Meehan, Roger Robinson, Laura Theis, and Walt Whitman. Cover illustration by Sarah Kirby.

Dimensions 5.5" x 8.25"; 20 pages.