Book: 'Panopticon' by Sean Bw Parker

Written between 2018 and 2025, these poems are snapshots of the 21st century British justice system in action. The title Panopticon refers to architect and prison reformer Sir Jeremy Bentham’s triangular ‘see-all’ design, many of which are still in use today, and French philosopher Michel Foucault’s writings on power dynamics within justice systems.

Sometimes surreal, sometimes visionary, sometimes impressionistic; and sometimes the meaning might be very clear. The relationship between poem and reader is unique – an ongoing dance between the written word, the page, the eye and the mind – and exists in its own right.

Reviews

‘Sean is one of those rare writers who is accomplished at more than one genre. What is even more rare, as evidenced in this volume, is a poet skilled in more than one form. Perfect for ‘dipping’, here you will find poetry that addresses the prison system in ways that are accessible to all. Deeply moving, insightful, ‘of the present’ or pithy, and so much more, there is something for every mood of every reader. It’s a volume of its time and it’s immortal, and I recommend it highly, whether you have an interest in the justice system or not.’ FS

‘Didn't expect anything other than an interesting and complete mixed bag of scribbles from Sean. There are throwbacks to other times and some really creative nuances that give food for thought. Buy it - if only to read “your dad is always with you”, because even if not here anymore to give you a hug or have a coffee and chat with. Your dad is always with you. Thank you for creating that poem in particular - I felt that.’ EW

‘I think they’re a model for what poetry can achieve for both poet and reader in terms of making sense of situations, expressing the fact that sometimes no sense can be made, expressing surrogate empathy to those who cannot receive it because it’s so unfamiliar to them, facing up to the hard edged callous cruelty of the system and finding warm remedies in nature.’ WT

'Panopticon by Sean Bw Parker is an excellent collection of poems that offers insight into the British justice system and prison life. Parker’s skill is to write about his own experiences without self-pity or sentimentality, and serious issues with intelligence and humour. Through his poetry, Parker brings to life a cast of characters: inmates struggling with depression, autism or illiteracy, elderly men destined to die incarcerated and young men railing against bars both literal and metaphorical. Particularly well-portrayed are the innocent - those wronged by the system, badly advised or falsely accused. This erudite volume deserves to be widely read.’ Joanna Williams

‘Excellent work! I don’t think you’ll find a clearer or more concise explanation of joint enterprise anywhere else than in Balthus & Nabokov. Truly talented!’ Spoken Injustice 

‘'There’s a rusty brutalism to Sean’s work. His words lament sights long since faded into jaded ether like jazz piranha. Sort of like a scab which, if scratched enough, will give way to a honey-sweet centre. There’s a pain there and it twitches, but without it, there would be only darkness.' Jay Mack (comedian and writer)

Available via Close To The Bone Publishing: https://www.close2thebone.co.uk/wp/books/panopticon/