The forms are so various that one may wonder if one could define poetry satisfactorily. But there is no question when the poetry transcends play and places us in another dimension. This is where Amichai takes us and while he…
Tag: poetry
A review of The Book of Hopes and Dreams, Dee Rimbaud (ed)
In a world frequently divided, supporting our “fellow man” is the keystone of civilization. The Book of Hopes and Dreams has been compiled to raise funds for Spirit Aid, which provides medical services to the people of Baglan Province. So Dee Rimbaud’s The…
Gallows Songs by Christian Morgenstern and Selected Translations by W.E. Snodgrass
These are a splendid pair of books from a gifted writer who turns his hand to every possibility with the liveliness of fearless and abundant talent. For readers ready to expand their horizons, these are essential additions to their collections.…
A review of Schizophrenia Poetry by M. Stefan Strozier
Some of the poetry is subtly humorous, such as the cleverly written “The Graveyard,” a poem written in 69 rhyming, heroic couplets. At first glance this looks like an anachronistic, and chaotic wandering in the clichéd landscape of Ancient Greek…
A review of Jukebox Music by Tony Nesca
The musical background is a strong influence in Nesca’s poetry. In the present collection there are references to Stan Getz, Billie Holliday, and Count Basie as well as to more current groups. The musical influence is also apparent in the…
A review of Peninsula by Trevor Hewett
Hewett observes and writes about those things which others tend to ignore, and allows the close, and very quiet perspective he takes to reveal its own meaning, without judgement or fanfare. This is an easy to read, and tenderly chosen…
A review of Tracings by Carolyn Howard-Johnson
These are ordinary days, and ordinary recollections, make extraordinary by the power of Howard-Johnson’s observation and the tension between sensation and hindsight. Peppered with imagery that is heady and evocative, this is poetry both historical and psychological. Reviewed by Magdalena…
A review of My Arthritic Heart by Liz Hall Downs
But this is just the beginning of what most of us don’t want to hear. A good part of this collection is about the poet’s struggle with debilitating rheumatoid arthritis that when coupled with poverty and inhumanity is a hard…
A review of Emma Strunk by Tony Nesca
This is an approach that has peculiar qualities. It never becomes poetry of the quotable and pretty sort but it avoids the pitfalls of a prose that needs connective tissue that is simply functional. It is not conventional narrative but…
A review of Songs of the Last Chinese Poet by Ouyang Yu
This collection, which was short-listed for the 1999 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards for multicultural writings, is not an easy read. Nor will it leave the reader with a warm sense of transcendence. The language is confronting, defensive, and graphic. But…