{"product_id":"the-rough-the-smooth-and-john-webster-9781068332869","title":"The Rough, the Smooth and the Quirky: Poems for a Complicated World","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn a world grappling with complexity and contradiction, \u003cem\u003eThe Rough, the Smooth and the Quirky: Poems for a Complicated World\u003c\/em\u003e by Oxford-based Anglo-Scottish poet \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Webster\u003c\/strong\u003e offers a bold and lyrical response. This compelling collection ventures into contested terrain, guided by the belief that poetry can illuminate difficult truths and foster meaningful dialogue.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom a pointed call for Keir Starmer to apologise to Rosie Duffield over the gender debate, to a Shakespearean rebuke of Osama Bin Laden, and a chilling reflection on grooming gang psychology drawn from a 1970s visit to Pakistan - Webster's verses confront uncomfortable realities with wit, insight, and moral clarity. The section \u003cem\u003eWords on the Woke\u003c\/em\u003e delivers sharp, satirical takes on contemporary identity politics, while \u003cem\u003eNo Such Thing as Infidel\u003c\/em\u003e explores the historical and modern tensions between Islam and the West, suggesting paths toward mutual understanding. In \u003cem\u003eStanzas on Ukraine\u003c\/em\u003e, Webster lends poetic solidarity to the Ukrainian struggle, culminating in \u003cem\u003eUkraine Dreamin'\u003c\/em\u003e, a poignant imagining of reconciliation through the eyes of a Russian dissenter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYet the collection is not solely political. The opening suite, \u003cem\u003eTies of the Heart\u003c\/em\u003e, delves into themes of mental health, mortality, and enduring friendship, with tributes to figures such as Benjamin Zephaniah, John Martyn, E.P. Thompson, Mary Shelley, and the poet's own father. Travel-inspired poems offer vivid glimpses into the world's rich diversity and human experience. Webster's imaginative reach extends to fables where Hitler is spooked by a preminition of The Beatles'\u003cem\u003e Yellow Submarine, \u003c\/em\u003e and Lord Byron shares reflections with Joe Biden on Afghanistan and the Greek War of Independence. The final section contemplates the personal impact of globalisation, closing with meditative verses that invite reflection and renewal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWritten in fluid, rhyming couplets, these poems \"tell it like it is\" - candid yet compassionate, provocative yet hopeful. \u003cem\u003eThe Rough, the Smooth and the Quirky\u003c\/em\u003e is a literary tonic for turbulent times, inviting readers to laugh, think, and feel their way through the chaos of the modern world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAuthor's website: www.johnmwebster.co.uk\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e John Webster\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1068332867\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781068332869\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e John Webster Publications\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/22\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 120\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.38lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.25d","brand":"John Webster","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48520130298111,"sku":"9781068332869","price":12.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_1112a4c4-2a96-4bdf-b19f-c65882e94a60.jpg?v=1778740926","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-rough-the-smooth-and-john-webster-9781068332869","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}