Flowering Limbs

Many of the poems in Flowering Limbs use images of the body to explore the tensions of family life and relationships. But while some of the poems are dark, the book is far from being gloomy or dry. Knight writes with a sharp wit and a real affection for his subjects. I especially enjoyed "In Case of Monsters", a funny picture of the rituals children invent to keep away their fears, and "The Gift" in which a student responds to another parcel from home, another four sleeved pullover, by growing an extra set of arms. Knight's poems also capture the isolation and weirdness of life in today's society, especially student life and life in bedsits. Flowering Limbs is highly moving and unforgettable.