‘Floating. Sublime. Sublimated. Current location unknown.’
‘Rothko’, page 46
White Cloud Over Purple is a burst of colour, exploration, and creativity. Published in 2024 by Atomic Bohemian, this collection is page after page of rich, vibrant writing.
White Cloud Over Purple is not just a poetry collection, it is a bold exhibition of memories, questions, and reflections.
There are so many highlights I could pick out, but I’ll share with you my favourite line, my favourite use of space and form, and my favourite piece. I’ll leave the rest for you to discover yourself.
Favourite line:
‘Unless up through the darkness see everything, the dew, a moth turning to poison while the bee-mouth sips broken wire, a hurricane at each end it’s true that fresh air is good for the body’ Centosaurus on page 22.
Favourite use of space:
‘Cold Dark Matter’ on page 50. Lines are scattered and slightly rotated around the page. I don’t know how to read the piece in a set order; I get lost within it, and I love that.
Favourite piece:
A particular favourite piece of mine from the collection is ‘Self-Portrait with Fruit’ on page 29.
It awakens all senses, ‘ I am smushing its flesh against the jaws of my mouth’, it is physical, ‘I am beyond segments, I am ripping out its heart’, it is unexpected, ‘Yes, I am eating a friendly baby orange dinosaur, with abandon and without regret. Roar!’
I’ve read this collection three times now, and each time I return to it, I feel I learn something different, something I hadn’t seen before. I wonder what I’ll discover on my next read through.
‘always ascending rising in time with the arc of the stars.’
‘for Pina Bausch, after Café Müller’, page 51
White Cloud Over Purple can be picked up here from Atomic Bohemian and costs £9.99.
Reviewing for charity
In October 2025, I’ll be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon for the charity The Eve Appeal. For each book I read and review I’ll donate £5 to my fundraising page.
Leia Butler 