I spent some time at the beach this summer, and had a fantastic time. I’m not usually one for the sand and the waves and the sand and the sun and the SAND OH MY GOODNESS SAND EVERYWHERE, but we really did have a fantastic time.
Before we went to the beach, I went to the library to hunt down the perfect beach read. I was thinking something simple, perhaps even something trashy, that I could duck in and out off without losing track of what was going on.
I left with something very different. Still something to duck in and out of, but something far from trashy. I left with the recently released collection of poetry, The Best Australian Poems 2014, edited by Geoff Page. And this is what I thought of it.
—
The Best Australian Poems / edited by Geoff Page
(Black Inc, 2014)
I borrowed this book so that I could put it down between poems without losing track of what was going on. But that backfired when I just wanted to keep reading.
The poems contained within this volume are varied. A wide range of authors, a wide range of topics and a wide range of styles. Some rhyme; most don’t.
Some
have that seemingly
random spacing
that doesn’t seem to make sense
until you look
beyond
the words
to the rhythm
and the greater
meaning.
Some poems you read, nod, then move on from. Others require more than one read. Others demand silence and contemplation.
And most induce feelings of jealousy awe and inspiration.
It’s a lovely little collection. Page has selected poems that remain accessible (especially for those of us whose knowledge of poetry and poetic form is, ahem, a little more basic than we’d like to admit). I usually include standout lines in these book reviews, so this time I’d like to include a few of the poems (or excerpts of the longer ones) that stayed with me:
—
If Hitler Also Spelled Hiedler
Hüttler or Huettler
at seventeen had remained
in watercolour been accepted
at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
even become a priest as once intended
the swastika would still signify
auspiciousness in Sanskrit
Israel wouldn’t exist
no Berlin or West Bank walls
holocaust would refer to
a burnt offering of Moses
WWI would still be The Great War
I would have had one more uncle.
Joe Dolce
—
1992
The central library
full of Hebrew,
Christian and Islamic
books was bombed.
The pages exploded
far into the sky.
For days the citizens
were brushing their
forefathers’ thoughts
off their shoulders.
Tessa Lunney
—
The Bridge (excerpt)
Eighty years on, tourists look down
and out through viewfinders. They pay well
to walk over the arch in bright overalls,
sliding in chains along the safety rails.
Not even a Southerly Buster can blow them away.
Ross Donlon
—
What it was like in the 40s (excerpt)
No-one was fit; they did not give a shit in the 40s.
They made love all night and washed their steaks down with champagne,
Died like flies in the wars, smoked, and visited whores,
O Casablanca, O Bogey, O play it again.
Peter Jeffrey
—
The Best Australian Poems 2014 is a highly recommended read for lovers of poetry, and also for those who think they might, maybe, perhaps would like to give it a go, but have never known where to start. You can purchase it from Booktopia here.
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Have you read The Best Australian Poems 2014? What did you think?
*The links in this post are affiliate links. If you click to buy the item, I earn a little commission but you don’t pay any extra.
I really need to find more time for reading, I’m also wanting to start a journal this year and have been eyeing off that Kikki K one in their latest sale.
Kikki K have some great stuff in the current sale! Had to stop myself from buying it all – I was there to buy a calendar but couldn’t resist the sentence a day as well!
Love the excerpts. Amazing how a few lines can paint such a vivid picture! The only poetry book I own is a collection of Sylvia Plath’s work that I liked so much I never returned to the school library!
You school rebel, you! I had plenty more excerpts marked but thought I’d stick to four.
I love poetry and you know what? My husband even writes it. He keeps pieces from when he was only 18 on worn out pieces of paper in his wallet. (They’re worn out because I accidentally washed his wallet a couple of times 🙁 ) I find reading poetry just awe-inspiring. There are so many talented people out there.
Ooooh, a poetry-writing husband? Just what you need with Valentine’s Day approaching!
Sounds like a great find!
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit
Thanks Leanne! The perfect beach book.
Oh I am in love with the What it was like in the 40s poem. I am a sucker for a volume of poetry, I have about 20 on my shelves, and when I first decided, aged 17 to introduce myself to poetry, it was an Australian anthology that I chose, and still have. I will borrow this from the library and then maybe buy, have to support our Australian poets. Thank you for this lovely post Em 🙂
The full poem is seriously wonderful. I’ve returned the book, but from memory it was four stanzas.
Such amazing writing, I’m totally in awe of those who can write such beautiful words.
Me too!
There’s something about poetry that’s a little bit magical isn’t there? What talent. What a great book.
I know. I think anything that makes me read that bit slower is poetry.
It’s a special gift to write poetry and songs. I have a few poetry books that I like to read from time to time. So much better than a trashy magazine. 🙂
WAAAAY better than a trashy magazine!
I might have to see if my library has a copy of this. I especially liked Tessa Lunney’s snippet.
Yep, I think Lunney’s was the first one I marked in my book. I hope you found a copy!
Those are some beautiful lines there. I’ve been eyeing this book for a while and might just get it now that you’ve reviewed it. I bought the short stories book but haven’t yet started on that.
I saw that! Might have to borrow that one too. Let me know what you think of it.
Hi Em,
Bron from Maxabella directed me to your site and I’m so glad she did. I did pick up a copy of The Best Australian Poems2014 in Dymocks last week and stupidly put it back on the shelf. have been thinking I should have bought it. your post has made me realise i definitely should have…will seek it out. Thanks.
Hi Lisa! Thanks for stopping by! Do I sound like a gushing scary fan-person if I say I got really excited when I saw your name here?!?! I hope you find a copy of the book and enjoy it as much as I did. x
I haven’t read a poem since TEE – funny how something I loved so much at the time has vanished from my everyday life. I think it probably got replaced during uni by music – spending forever analysing lyrics and meanings of the latest smashing pumpkins or pearl jam song. I suppose that is my poetry 🙂
Hello from #teamIBOT
Music is definitely poetry! And some are much, much better at it than others. Love the analogy.
I’m not a huge fan of poems but these ones sound brilliant. I like the one about life in the 40’s.
The full poem is just divine. Glad you liked the snippets!
It’s really weird. I love words and I love the flow of language but I have never been able to enjoy poetry. I just have no patience for it. I think it’s because I tend to be such a straight talker that I find the deliberate opaqueness of poetry annoying. God. I’m such a heathen.
Fair enough! I like all forms of writing. I think. Well, I shouldn’t say that. But I can definitely say I haven’t yet met a form I didn’t like. x