Biology Matters

Colette Colfer's debut poetry pamphlet explores the mysteries of living organisms. The poems range in topic from the potentialities of an orange seed to a child's reflection on the corpse of a loved one. Some poems offer a glimpse into the personalities and lives of a few of those who developed the foundational laws of heredity. One short sequence explores the true story of a famous heart transplant that bridged a political divide. The final poems of the series take a provocative look at current contested ideas about language, womanhood, chromosomes, and evolution.

'Colette writes the truth beautifully at a time when it is genuinely revolutionary to dare to even try.' - Graham Linehan

'These are vital, brave poems to remind us of the processes defining our lives.' - Rachel Rooney

'What a pleasure it is to see a book of poetry that gets right to the heart of what it is to be human. Colfer's poems mould ideas, create visions and explore the human condition in a beautiful and lyrical manner. Unafraid to explore subjects that are often viewed to be off limits, Colfer's quiet but gentle poetry is moving, courageous and inspirational.' - Stella O'Malley

'Colfer's poems are love songs to the scientific method and the fleshly realities of human embodiment. This charming collection possesses the scientific virtues too: freedom of enquiry, precision and, above all, honesty. - Helen Joyce

'Some believe that science destroys the beauty of nature, but Colfer's beautiful poems, touching on a range of scientific topics from genetics to medicine and even life and death, demonstrate the potential of science to expose the beauty and mysteries inherent in nature.' - Colin Wright