About the book
'An alchemical wonder of a poet' Fiona Benson, author of Vertigo & Ghost
'Vivid, lyrical, and always surprising . . . Both a balm and a call to action' Nathan Filer, author of The Shock of the Fall
A sparkling new collection from Romalyn Ante, nurse and prizewinning poet, moving between the Philippines and Wolverhampton, myth and the grind of the present-day NHS.
'this charms the buried light of stars –
this deflects bullets – this unblooms a war – '
In some Filipino clans, parents pass down to each child an AGIMAT, an amulet, in the hope its magic will protect and empower them. At the dawn of the pandemic, the poet – a practising nurse in the NHS – is thrown onto the frontlines of the war against COVID-19.
Past conflicts swim into the now. When she falls in love with a man of Japanese heritage, it forces a reckoning with her family’s suffering under Japan’s brutal wartime occupation of the Philippines. Elsewhere, we meet the irrepressible goddess Mebuyan, who, in Philippine myth, nurses the spirits of children in the underworld. Here, she watches over young people in crisis – a girl who can’t stop cutting herself, a teenager who has leapt from a railway viaduct.
These are poems of strength and solace; they question what it means to fight, and what it takes to heal.
Editions of AGIMAT
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781784745776
- EBook
- ISBN 9781529940411
Read an Excerpt
'An alchemical wonder of a poet' Fiona Benson, author of Vertigo & Ghost
'Vivid, lyrical, and always surprising . . . Both a balm and a call to action' Nathan Filer, author of The Shock of the Fall
A sparkling new collection from Romalyn Ante, nurse and prizewinning poet, moving between the Philippines and Wolverhampton, myth and the grind of the present-day NHS.
'this charms the buried light of stars –
this deflects bullets – this unblooms a war – '
In some Filipino clans, parents pass down to each child an AGIMAT, an amulet, in the hope its magic will protect and empower them. At the dawn of the pandemic, the poet – a practising nurse in the NHS – is thrown onto the frontlines of the war against COVID-19.
Past conflicts swim into the now. When she falls in love with a man of Japanese heritage, it forces a reckoning with her family’s suffering under Japan’s brutal wartime occupation of the Philippines. Elsewhere, we meet the irrepressible goddess Mebuyan, who, in Philippine myth, nurses the spirits of children in the underworld. Here, she watches over young people in crisis – a girl who can’t stop cutting herself, a teenager who has leapt from a railway viaduct.
These are poems of strength and solace; they question what it means to fight, and what it takes to heal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AGIMAT about?
'An alchemical wonder of a poet' Fiona Benson, author of Vertigo & Ghost
'Vivid, lyrical, and always surprising . . . Both a balm and a call to action' Nathan Filer, author of The Shock of the Fall
A sparkling new collection from Romalyn Ante, nurse and prizewinning poet, moving between the Philippines and Wolverhampton, myth and the grind of the present-day NHS.
'this charms the buried light of stars –
this deflects bullets – this unblooms a war – '
In some Filipino clans, parents pass down to each child an AGIMAT, an amulet, in the hope its magic will protect and empower them. At the dawn of the pandemic, the poet – a practising nurse in the NHS – is thrown onto the frontlines of the war against COVID-19.
Past conflicts swim into the now. When she falls in love with a man of Japanese heritage, it forces a reckoning with her family’s suffering under Japan’s brutal wartime occupation of the Philippines. Elsewhere, we meet the irrepressible goddess Mebuyan, who, in Philippine myth, nurses the spirits of children in the underworld. Here, she watches over young people in crisis – a girl who can’t stop cutting herself, a teenager who has leapt from a railway viaduct.
These are poems of strength and solace; they question what it means to fight, and what it takes to heal.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in AGIMAT?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Poetry / Poems > Poetry / poems by individual poets
Where can I read a sample of AGIMAT?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781784745776
Who is/are the Author/s of the book AGIMAT?
Romalyn Ante
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
AGIMAT is available as paperback(ISBN 9781784745776) and ebook(ISBN 9781529940411)
Where can I buy AGIMAT online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy AGIMAT from below