A common humanity: Michael Witts reviews ‘Steep Curve’ by Robyn Rowland
This is a collection brimming with life, love and humour. These poems assert their independence while acknowledging their cohesion. They are parts of a greater whole.
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Fierce and poignant: John Bennett launches ‘Stranded’ by Bronwyn Rodden
Bronwyn’s poems are alive, they talk to us. Often as quiet presences that draw us into a life from childhood on. She left home early. Her poems can be fierce and poignant regarding family dynamics.
A patient reverence for the continuity of time: Lyn Chatham reviews ‘The Seal Woman’ by Beverley Farmer
The Seal Woman is a novel with a clear narrative arc, albeit a slow-moving one, but overwhelmingly it is a patient reverence for the continuity of time, rhythm of the seasons, the oceans and, of course, its living creatures.
Celebrating poetry: Carmel Macdonald-Grahame introduces Robyn Rowland
Thanks to the much-appreciated revival of 5 Islands Press, led by poets Mark Tredinnick and Steve Meyrick, we now have Steep Curve. Robyn is meticulous not only about the writing itself, but she is scrupulous about the publication of her poetry. She takes the work of publication seriously and insists on it being perfectly presented on the page. So her books are also beautiful objects.
Extraordinary skill, intimacy, generosity, and beauty: Maria Takolander launches ‘Steep Curve’ by Robyn Rowland
Her assuredness shines through in the extraordinary craft of the poetry—the handling of line, image, enjambment, phrasing, not to mention her voice. But it’s also there in the book’s subject matter, which might be regarded as somewhat remarkable in today’s landscape for its indifference towards the faddish. What I mean to say is that Robyn’s poetry delves, in its assured way, into universal phenomena like aging, family, love, grief, which are explored, of course, from her own deeply personal perspective.
The recreation of memory: Mark Roberts launches ‘Some Dualities’ and ’28 Sonnets’ by Michael Witts
There is much to read and enjoy in Some Dualities, the poems are often witty, nearly always insightful and often honestly personal.
Vivid world building: Richard James Allen launches ‘The Book of Jeremiah’ by Beatriz Copello
Jeremiah is a complex and not always appealing figure, but that may be the point, as he is Copella’s vehicle for an examination of the contradictions and complexities of being human. In fact, one of the strengths of this book is its fearless honesty about human urges.
Lithe eloquence & lyric originality: Anne Carson launches ‘The Flowering Dark’ by Sue Lockwood
The Flowering Dark is a materially gorgeous book with a wonderfully evocative cover, and I congratulate the publishers, Mark and Steve for the revamped (and warmly re-welcomed) 5 Island Press for producing such a beautiful holding-space for Sue’s poems, and for choosing Sue’s book to relaunch the press.
Capturing the human condition: Colleen Keating reviews ‘Natural Light’ by David Atkinson
Natural Light is a striking book, full of original images, capturing the human condition and the natural world. These are broad themes and longstanding interests of the poet.
Rochford Street Review 