A huge thanks to Tony Messenger for reviewing Engraft and interviewing me on his excellent blog, Messenger’s Booker. Tony is an indefatigable supporter of Australian poetry and his blog is a fantastic resource. I particularly love his author interviews. Here’s a taste of mine: Q. Both of your works are very “unsettling” and in “Dead Ottla” (a poem sourced from …
I’ve been invited to appear at some really interesting poetry events over the coming months. First up, on Sunday November 5th, is Spirit of the Land, a poetry reading organised by Aussie poet Les Wicks. This reading takes place at the beautiful Many Art Gallery & Museum, not far from my home, and comprises of twenty poets who’ve been asked to …
Your silence masses upon me; a familiar wait/weight. I contain it lest it cedes and leaves a more incisive absence. Silence as accusation, veiled self-violation. I try it on, rehearsing how I might feel if— This is the white noise you’ve always prophesised: a resounding of renounced pain hope words memory mother.
QPF 2017 kicks off next week and I’m thrilled to be attending and to be involved in a number of events. These will be co-presented by Verity La and will introduce the journal’s Clozapine Clinic mental health writing project to the Festival. A huge thanks to Festival co-directors Anne-Marie Te Whiu and David Stavanger for inviting us to take part and help shine some …
I’ve had a poem published in the Canberra Times! Which feels rather exciting as it means that ‘normal’ people (you know, not just those strange ones who buy poetry books) have clapped eyes on it. Wonder what they thought? A big thanks to former CT poetry editor, Melinda Smith, for accepting the poem, and to new ed. Lizz Murphy for sending …
I’ve recently had a chapbook—HUSH—published by the wonderful small Australian Blank Rune Press. The publisher, Valli Poole, was a dream to work with—she’s so passionate and particular about what she does, and as a result the books (which she hand-makes) are exquisite. Blank Rune only do a very limited print run, and Valli has told me HUSH has almost sold …
I’m thrilled to have been asked (along with Queensland poet, Nathan Shepherdson) to co-judge this year’s Queensland Poetry Festival Philip Bacon Ekphrasis Award. This award, now in its third year, is named after one of Australia’s premier art dealers, Philip Bacon. The word ekphrasis comes from the Greek ek (out) & phrasis (speak), and is a rhetorical device in which a visual object, …
I contemplate your arc, which has been cut. Your projected ghost limb twitching in the glare of my grand truncated hope. Grief breaking bounds and bearing us fused into myth. Listen, I’m a mother, your mother — It’s my job to scout ahead. Even in a world that scoffs at maternal prescience I persist, baying like a bitch at spectres …
I’m chuffed to have my poem Hush appear in the recent Confession Issue of Cordite Poetry Review. There are some extraordinary poems in the issue, as well as some stunning photography by Therese Ritchie. My thanks to editors Keri Glastonbury & Kent MacCarter! Hush You’re bloated and there is fear in your gaze. You’ve demanded the right to be this way and I …
I’m thrilled to announce the publication of a new chapbook written in conjunction with my dear friend and stellar poet, Robbie Coburn. Scar to Scar was conceived when Robbie sent me a poem and I replied, in kind, with a poem I ‘found’ within his, re-ordering his original text as a form of poetic alchemy. Our collaboration developed over the next …