The Asylum Dance by Burnside, John

London: Jonathan Cape. Good+ with no dustjacket. 2000. First Edition; Second Impression. Original Decorated Wrappers. 0224059386 . Pages slightly yellowed as normal for age. Loose newspaper insert. Slight wear to spine, cover and corners. Front cover somewhat creased. ; "The Asylum Dance" by John Burnside, awarded the Whitbread Prize for Poetry, delves into the dichotomy between the longing for home's sanctuary and the yearning to break free. Through four long poems—"Ports," "Settlements," "Fields," and "Roads"—Burnside explores the tension between the instinctual pull towards safety and simplicity, and the allure of the unknown and escape. His mastery of language and profound philosophical insight affirm his prominent status in contemporary poetry, as he navigates the delicate balance between presence and absence. ; 20 x 13.4 x .7cm; 83 pages .