Banango Lit

BY: THOM JAMES

I remember when the Mumford and Sons album first came out in Britain. I gave it a few listens, and did not think much of it. I moved on to the next thing. I think it was the XX.

T.L. Kirk has written a collection of poems within a chapbook whilst being inspired by the music he heard from Mumford and Sons. After being given this piece to review, I thought, “why not listen to the album as I read through?” so, initially, I started off with Sigh No More. By T.L. Kirk. And Mumford and Sons. I went through every poem with the musical counterpart.

There is an overwhelming sense of sentimentalism in all the pieces, though, it is not crippling in any way. Actually, it does the complete opposite. From the beginning piece ‘Sigh No More’ to the last poem ‘After The Storm’, it is as if we’re watching events that are very confidential. They’re full of intimacy, there is great amount of questioning, and there’s an abundance of reminiscing. The way the pieces remain fluent throughout the entirety of the chapbook is great; they feel almost like liquid when they’re being read. Kirk has made the pieces seem very intimate to the reader, they promote a sense of naturalism, it is rejuvenating, it is refreshing. Here’s an example of why I really, really, really, like this chapbook;

I want to fall without gravity

With them

And nestle in the sand

Warm and grating

Where fish bones go to die

Already gone

But buried deep now

For good

- ‘After The Storm’

All the poems I read within this chapbook were enjoyable. They made me feel like I wanted to run outside and find some hay barrels and jump on them. Even though it’s winter, and something like 3 degrees outside. As well as writing a memorable chapbook inspired by Mumford and Sons, Kirk has also made me want to listen to Mumford and Sons more. They can be read whilst listening to Mumford and Sons, they can be read without listening to Mumford and Sons, they can be read without knowing anything about Mumford and Sons, Kirk makes it work. He makes it all his own.

You should read his works for yourself,

Tyler’s work can be found here; http://tlkirk.tumblr.com/