In Bycatch, a new collection by the Ted Hughes Prize shortlisted-poet Caroline Smith, the poems ask where personhood is when memory and language are gone. They capture the faltering years of a life gradually scraped bare by the deep-sea trawler of dementia - yet find amongst the isolation and sadness, moments also of clarity, epiphany and love. Whilst these poems chart deep waters, they remind us also of the enduring and miraculous bond between those who have known each other for a lifetime. With grace and often with humour, Smith unravels the intricate nature of care, the symbiosis of family, and ultimately the sense of self held in the memories and personal histories of her own parents. It is in the swell of the wave, as ageing and loss threaten to engulf even the words, these extraordinary poems remain tender, unforgettable and salt-sharp.

Caroline Smith trained as a sculptor at Goldsmiths College. She now lives in Wembley where she works with refugees. Her previous collection, The Immigration Handbook was shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award and translated into Italian. Smith is widely published in journals and anthologies, including The Poetry Review, The Spectator and Staying Alive (Bloodaxe). Her work has been shortlisted or won prizes in the Keats/Shelley, Indigo Dreams and The Alpine International poetry competitions. She has given readings at festivals and universities around the world, including Aldeburgh, Cardiff, Ledbury, Columbia and Michigan universities. Set to music by the British Argentinian composer Silvina Milstein, her poetry has been performed by the BBC Singers. She is a 2025 Hawthornden Fellow. carolinesmithpoet.com