written for Nicola Parry

Nicola and I met whilst she was in the middle of a project, photographing poets in their writing habitats. She took a picture of me in what I now accept was a transitional phase, and she has been present in a number of important professional scenarios for me across the last three years.

What draws me most to Nicola is her work, her attention to detail and the sheer depth of field she inhabits as both a professional and as a friend. Her work is absolutely worth seeking out and is some of the most accomplished photography I’ve encountered.

Anyone can take a picture, but a photograph requires more than one perfect pose. It demands the inference of all that came to make the moment. It asks you to inhabit space and understand the importance of light. Nicola has always understood that brief.

I am very grateful to have had the chance to be her subject.

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Finger Spaces

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Underneath the hand  the light is changing
a rearrangement              of the principles
underneath the wall  the world is peeling
a consequence           of time and place
underneath the hand  there is a whole

the hand        the light   underneath
the principles        are rearranging
time       place      made of space
the hand  the palm  is bleeding

consequence of placing light
hand    that’s slowly peeling
this portrait      is burning

wall becomes an epithet
for shadow’s meaning

the hand   is depth

the finger  space

five point star

extending

one life

.

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Poem copyright S. Reeson © 2026

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Prohibition on Use of Work in AI.

For avoidance of doubt, the Author reserves the rights to this publication. No part of this publication can be utilised or reproduced for the purposes of assisting artificial intelligence technologies. © 2026

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