Birds in Mind Review
Birds in Mind: Australian nature poems by Andrew Lansdown. Wombat Books, 2009 pb 224p
What a marvelous collection of poems! Not only are they accurate wildlife observations, but also orisons to the uniqueness of birds, insects, animals and their environs. The scope of subject matter is broad. For example, the wide variety of tributes to birdlife range from: “the white-faced heron – geisha refinement and deportment” to “a flock of finches – doing a crossword puzzle in the cyclone wire gate”. Waterlife is characterised by “motorbike frogs star revving up” and “the sandcrab boxbodied like a hansomcab”. Descriptors for plants and trees include “common donkey orchids braying their beauty” and “a eucalyptus flower with anthers of gold and filaments of fire”. Other poems deal with outdoor activities like camping, photography, and fishing. There is an occasional touch of whimsy and quirkiness. Highly recommended. NS (ACLA)
BIRDS IN MIND
Andrew Lansdown
Wombat Books
Lansdown paints word-portraits of Australian birds; sometimes little cameos and sometimes full, wall-length canvases. As well there are sketches of orchids and kangaroos, and panoramas of rivers and flame-trees, which together bring the Australian landscape alive with colour and movement. WN
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