The Emma Press Noon

Two brothers wrestle, a bird lies in a young boy’s hand, an entire field lives within the eye of a needle. Noon is a sparkling debut from Birmingham-born poet Zain Rishi, exploring home, family and faith. From the heat of the school relay and his grandmother’s Kashmiri chai to the images of a young man kissing a city goodbye, these poems chart a coming-of-age journey across place, sexuality and family ties. Rich in its interrogation of language and inheritance across generations, Noon announces Zain Rishi as one of the UK’s most exciting new voices.