Vividly expressing the reality of living homeless exposed to the elements and the disregard and violence of strangers, these poems range from the darkly playful to difficult to read, and are just as difficult to ignore
Shazea Quraishi
Benjamin Cusden writes from the "hard and cold" reality of living on the streets, where "sympathy is a starving bird". There's advice for those newly homeless, existing in a 'murder of doorways", of the need to move on, the need to "rearrange bits of yesterday to be ready for tomorrow". Cut The Black Rabbit is a tough but tender read, with Cusden being one who knows how to "camouflage your being with evening air" and how to scrape by "with laughter and lager".'
Katrina Naomi
We are fortunate to have the work of Cusden in our midst. The inner experience of being devoid of shelter, of a centre, of a system of nourishment, sustenance and protection is what we have with Cut The Black Rabbit. (Extract from Sascha Akhtar's review of Cut the Black Rabbit, available in full on the Against the Grain Poetry Press website)
Benjamin Cusden has created a moving record of a breakdown in a relationship that eventually leads to life on the streets. The poems are easily accessible but this simplicity belies a powerful understanding of the subject matter.
Ruth O'Callaghan