Strugnell's Haiku

The texts cover the angst of living in South London, the abode of the fictional Strugnell, who lived in Tulse Hill and worked at Norwood library,[1] and whose work shows the influence of a number of poets, including Ted Hughes,[2] Craig Raine[3] and James Elroy Flecker.

In the second haiku, the poet laments his imminent baldness, comparing it to the seasonal fallen leaves and snow.

The first haiku is marked by Matthews as "with fervour, but soon becoming gentle and introspective"; the second as "delicate: like porcelain."

The third haiku, (marked "sombre but visceral"), in 38, is set against cavernous perfect fifths in the bass.

[6] The songs were first publicly performed by Linda Hirst, accompanied by Julian Jacobson, on 14 December 1989 at the British Music Information Centre, London.