sing & hide / Cai Draper

‘Cai Draper paints a portrait of family that avoids the trappings of familiarity. sing & hide expertly sustains a playfulness in language and the remarkable quality of capturing, in the everyday and beyond, that which is unorthodox and unique.’ Gboyega Odubanjo

‘The poems in this pamphlet are stunning and startling, but above all they are generous in the way they boldly untangle the laws of family and invite readers to do the same.’ Ellen Renton

Cai Draper’s sing & hide is a tribute to youth, family and the nuances of belonging. While its speaker places us firmly in the distinct and polyphonic context of his coming of age (Woolworths, Megadrive, ‘Spoons, Moschino, Peckham Pulse, the Rivoli), he himself is often caught between lines and homes, between pride and shame. Draper’s bold, idiosyncratic voice betrays a deep yearning for knowledge of the self and others, drawing the reader in with magnetic effect. Influenced by modern sculpture, there is an architectural quality to these poems, cast into bronze or moulded from London turf, skilfully wielding negative space to draw attention to the unseen and unspoken.

First published: 14th November 2022
ISBN: (Paperback) 978-1-913268-35-0
(ePub) 978-1-913268-48-6