It gives me immense pleasure to introduce you to Permanent Swim, a collection of poetry and prose written by Matthew Gravolin!
Though Matthew’s words can be found and adored through the music of Hellions, Permanent Swim is his first published book, and we are exceptionally proud to present it alongside him via Depth Publishing.
Within the pages of Permanent Swim are 63 unique pieces of poetry and prose. As you read it, you’ll start to recognise that some lines have found their way into Hellions’ songs. But as the written word is unrestricted by way of syllables, rhythm, or time, these poems traverse far more deeply into the psyche of this particular human being and allow for him to elaborate on subjects (or moments) that he holds dear.
You’ll see when you turn the pages of Permanent Swim that as honest and as vulnerable as Matthew is as a lyricist, so too are his poems. The pieces of Permanent Swim share his experiences of navigating life, whether his lens is one of a worker, musician, lover, friend, son, or as an observer of the world around him. The poems are divided amongst specific archetypes that Matthew has found himself identifying with, giving a guiding structure to what reads as a poetic diary. Similar to the series of Hellions’ songs capturing a year of Matthew’s life, the poems document life from the end of creating Opera Oblivia and through to the end of creating Rue, and tie in to similar themes of purpose, identity, and belonging.
Reading Permanent Swim is an involving experience, where dense and delicate wordsmithing on these cream-coloured pages will inspire reactions of sadness, curiosity, or joy along with Matthew. At times confronting, these pieces are destined to be read over and over again, with greater understanding unfolding with each visit. It’s a precious read, and one we hope you’ll love too.
For now, we’ve sold out of copies of Permanent Swim, but stay tuned and watch via our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for details on reprints as they occur. You can also learn more about Depth Publishing here, or hear from Matthew about the book in our interview.
