Philip Holmes’ first book of poems is in three parts, which represent three different modes of experience. The first part is a miscellany of short poems; the second, ‘Carpet of Memory’ (the title is from Klee), is an interwoven poem-cycle in which parallels are drawn between remembered events, places, people and the associations they call forth. The final section turns away from meditation to the direct recording of impressions. This is a highly promising first book – particularly notable for the author’s fresh and inventive use of the resources of language.