Why I Am Not a Bus Driver (Paperback) Ashley Hickson-Lovence (author)

Shortlisted for the Jhalak Poetry Prize 2026

Why I Am Not a Bus Driver is a moving and musical debut collection exploring grief, love and the power of community, from the author of The 392, Your Show and Wild East (Mal Peet Award, Carnegie Medal for Writing Nomination). The heart of this book beats in sync with that of the poet’s late grandfather, as, sonnet after unconventional sonnet, Hickson-Lovence uncovers the micro-histories woven into the streets and journeys that shape us. These poems speak with Frank O’Hara, in their stream-of-consciousness lyricism, in meditations that dance like winding roads, both immediate and nostalgic. Committed to honouring the authentic and everyday, the real and true, human connection is the destination in this stirring collection, and every reader has a priority seat.

Publisher information
Publisher: Bad Betty Press
ISBN: 9781913268749
Number of pages: 102
Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm