And I Used to Sail Barges - Mike Ferguson

‘In the first little collection of prose poems I wrote, each vignette contained at least one fundamental lie and one fundamental truth. Sometimes I forget which was which: many of the stories were about things that happened a long time ago. I sent this to various poetry publishers but they were always returned, most as courteous rejections, and those briefly tempted still declined with expressions of concern about some of the revelations – whether true or not. Even after I removed the particularly dark and bleak piece from subsequent attempts, there just wasn’t any interest. I finally gave up trying after the email argument I had with one editor regarding what she described as the ‘meaninglessness’ of the word fundamental in my lengthy submission essay.’
Mike Ferguson

‘Mike Ferguson’s book about hairdressing was a unique discovery for us to have featured. It was unusual for being a poetry collection and made it the first time we reviewed and recommended writing from this genre. The delightful poems revealed a professional understanding – from salon techniques to hairstyling fashions – and there were loads of humorous observations about, for example, the use of blending scissors to experience as a customer in the hydraulic chair.  It is a cut-above the sort of poetry we had to study at school, and for many working here at the magazine, it will have a permanent place on their bookshelves.’
Professional Hair Care