Word Migrants

Word Migrants by Hazel Smith is a compelling poetry collection that engages directly with contemporary political and social issues. It delves into civil war and the flight of populations, oppressive regimes and the disappearance of dissidents, and the unpredictable effects of climate change. These pressing global issues are interwoven with personal experiences of death and dementia, abuse, disability, and childlessness.

The poems portray intense psychological states of indecisiveness, anxiety, disorientation, and guilt. To dramatise this sense of unease, the collection employs surreal conjunctions and metaphor.

Smith, a new media artist and musician, infuses her poetry with techniques from these fields. The collection features linguistic coloratura, the evocation of virtual realities, and the innovative use of cutting and pasting from the internet. Elements such as remixing, sampling, and quotation are employed to drive home the poems' effects.