I seldom dream of him but when I do we are always dancing,
it is always a waltz, the old-fashioned kind
it is always light, filtered sunlight
and gardenias, and blond wooden floors.
(There is always a part of this that is for you).
Page 6 of 7
The full text of Poetry NZ Yearbook 2 is now available online as a free PDF. The feature poet is Robert Sullivan, and the issue is packed full of too many poets – both established and new – for me to name here, along with essays by John Geraets, Janet Newman and Alistair Paterson, and a number of reviews. As the editor, Jack Ross, comments, this “is a gift to poetry-lovers everywhere”.
What I am reading: The Best American Poetry 2015, ed. Sherman Alexie
Look for me in: Perspectives in Biology and Medicine Vol 58 No 1, ed. Annemarie Jutel. You can view a PDF of my piece here.
This summer, the world lost David Lyndon Brown, a talented poet, writer, artist, teacher, and gorgeous man. The Spinoff has published Olwyn Stewart’s great essay on David and his writing, The champion figure skater who wrote wonderful stories – Farewell to David Lyndon Brown.
‘Not only were his paintings and stories anchored in a deep appreciation of art, truth and beauty, they were also the values that informed the choice of artefacts with which he surrounded himself, which in turn left their spoor in the art he produced and the stories that he told – as the old saying goes, “you build your house and your house builds you.”’ – Olwyn Stewart, 2016
Paula Green invited me to make some picks of NZ poetry I enjoyed in 2015 for Poetry Shelf: Poet’s Choice: Olivia Macassey makes some picks. Reading the other poets’ choices was a good reminder that there are still lots of books I want to read and haven’t.
What I am reading: David Coventry, The Invisible Mile
Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped
Look for me in: Poetry NZ Yearbook 2
What I am working on – ‘Adventures in the Country of Death’ sequence:
(I use a lot of grayscale in these works)
Some of these have appeared in various issues of Brief. [Read The Death of Porthos here].
I’m guest editing an issue of Brief, on the theme of love, which is fun and a little scary because I’ve never edited a journal before. You can read the Call for Submissions here (due Feb 29).
The list of stockists for The Burnt Hotel has been updated – it’s now in Masterton and Palmerston North.
What I am reading: Stephanie Christie’s thoughtful, twisty questioning Carbon Shapes and Dark Matter.
Look for me in: Landfall, issue 230
and there are 2 poems from The Burnt Hotel in Brief, issue 53
Call for Submissions: Brief issue 54 – love
“Love, exciting and new/ Come aboard, we’re expecting you” (Paul Williams, Love Boat Theme)
“Once the first avowal has been made, “I love you” has no meaning whatever; it merely repeats in an enigmatic mode – so blank does it appear – the old message (which may not have been transmitted in these words). I repeat it exclusive of any pertinence; it comes out of the language, it divagates – where?” (Roland Barthes [trans. Richard Howard], A Lover’s Discourse)
Submissions are invited for the 54th issue of brief, which will be a thematic issue on love, guest edited by Olivia Macassey. Submissions are to be received by February 29, 2016, and can be emailed to brief.the.journal @gmail.com or to me. Non-electronic submissions up to A4 in size can be mailed to the editor by prior arrangement.
Brief, a biannual print journal (founded in 1995), is a space for new experimental writing, work that does something interesting, etc. It publishes poetry, prose, essays & criticism, hybrid forms, and occasionally visual art. Contributors receive an issue of the journal as payment.
The Burnt Hotel is now available in shops…
*updated
Auckland: University Bookshop, and Unity Books
Wellington: Unity Books, and Vic Books
Christchurch: UBS Canterbury, and Scorpio Books
Palmerston North: Bruce McKenzie Booksellers
Masterton: Hedley Bookshop
Or order online:
Titus Books
UBS Books
Unity Books
Vic Books
When: Thursday 17 September at 5pm
Where: Alleluya, Auckland
What: Publisher Titus Books launches my new book, The Burnt Hotel, along with two other new collections of poetry:
Carbon Shapes and Dark Matter by Stephanie Christie, and Excerpts from a Natural History by Holly Painter.
There will be introductions, readings by the authors, music by Tofu Horse, and refreshments. Readings start at 5.30. You are invited!
5pm Alleluya bar and cafe, St Kevins Arcade, Karangahape road, Auckland.
What I am reading: Roger Horrocks’ impressive work, Song of the Ghost in the Machine. It has his characteristic energy, focus and intellectual curiousity.
Look for me in: Fast Fibres 2: Poetry from Northland (available from Piet Nieuland).
