Janette Ayachi is a Scottish-Algerian poet whose work frequently engages with the cityscapes of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Her poetry is characterized by its insightful exploration of human emotion and experience. Ayachi focuses on language and rhythm, crafting evocative imagery and profound observations. Her verses delve into themes of identity, memory, and place.
Exploring the complexities of motherhood, the collection delves into the intertwining of sexuality and female camaraderie. With a mix of explicit imagery and nuanced joy, it captures the multifaceted experiences of women. The poet's agile and light-footed style enhances the emotional depth, inviting readers to reflect on the intimate and sometimes raw realities of womanhood.
Set against the enchanting backdrop of Venice, a young girl from Scotland embarks on thrilling adventures after befriending a mermaid in the canal. Their friendship unfolds amidst a tapestry of mysterious characters, including a fortune teller and masked demons. As they navigate the magic and myth of the city, themes of deception and duplicity emerge, leaving the girl to question the true identity of her aquatic friend by the story's conclusion. The narrative beautifully blends fantasy with the allure of carnival and costume, creating a captivating tale.
Janette Ayachi’s second collection moves away from the personal and delves into the universal with poems often taking flight from the page to parachute into performance. Lost landscapes and lost loves merge as she confronts loneliness at the same time as showing us new bloom is on the horizon - that nature will always will us another spark.