Why I Am Not A Bus Driver

“A memorial, moving in its radical honesty and grace.” Luke Kennard

Good with our hands but in very different ways.

I wouldn’t know where to start under

the bonnet of a broken-down car

or changing a flat tyre and you wouldn’t

understand the point of me writing these poems

Why I Am Not a Bus Driver is a moving and musical debut collection exploring grief, love and the power of community, from the author of The 392, Your Show and Wild East (East Anglian Book Awards Book of the Year). The heart of this book beats in sync with that of the poet’s late grandfather, as, sonnet after unconventional sonnet, Hickson-Lovence uncovers the micro-histories woven into the streets and journeys that shape us. These poems speak with Frank O’Hara, in their stream-of-consciousness lyricism, in meditations that dance like winding roads, both immediate and nostalgic. Committed to honouring the authentic and everyday, the real and true, human connection is the destination in this stirring collection, and every reader has a priority seat.

“This is among the most natural, elegant sonnet sequences I’ve read: an elegy, a memorial moving in its radical honesty and grace. What both broke and strengthened my heart about this collection is the sheer humanity and authentic curiosity that makes a life feel meaningful, transfiguring both the extraordinary and the everyday with dignity, love and imagination. Just gorgeous.” - Luke Kennard

"A moving collection which is attuned to the knowledge that poetry of the family is both plain and complex, that the dead sometimes require elegy and sometimes require celebration; and all of this held within the strength and uncertainty that is the human-made body of the poem " Andrew McMillan

“Why I Am Not A Bus Driver is a heartfelt elegy to a grandfather, skilfully weaving themes of legacy, promises, influences, and dreams. While the grandfather takes centre stage, England itself emerges as a powerful backdrop to the story. Hickson-Lovence’s unified themes lend the book the feel of a novel-in-verse, yet each poem resonates with its own emotional strength. An endearing and enlightening read—don’t miss it.” Roger Robinson

“Ashley Hickson-Lovence’s debut collection offers an intricate reminiscence, an insight into fierce familial bonds and how they shape a life indefinitely. These poems pulse with longing, vulnerability and doubt, highlighting the human need for connection, the resilience that grows from loss, the certainty that comes when the love unfolds.” Rebecca Goss

“I really love Ashley Hickson-Lovence.” Candice Carty-Williams