Kathryn Hamann
From the author:
I wrote this book as my ‘yes’ to the God who loves me beyond my wildest imagination; the God who never gives up on me even when I might wish to give up on myself. It is written as my thanks; my thanks, too, to those friends, who like the boy who offered the five barley loaves and two fish in John 6:9, gave me the photos and paintings that me sustained through my illness and have now borne fruit as this book.
A SLIGHT FUZZING OF PERSPECTIVE
Kathryn Hamann
Mono Unlimited
From the slightly fuzzy a cover of sunlight through trees and over water, this coffee table book is a delight. Not only are the poems lyrical and deftly handled, they are enhanced by numerous-stunning full page photographs and paintings as well as some smaller artworks. This is a book to pick up and savour.
From five line poems that could almost be prayers to longer poems, there is variety and plenty for the eyes and ears to enjoy. The use of language throughout this book is effective, original and makes the reader look at this differently. Surely that is the aim of poetry!
The book is divided into five sections; Mirroring, The Eye, Of Love, Grace and Coda as well as a page of notes on some of the poems and hints regarding further information regarding certain topics or organisations.
Initially I read this book from beginning to end, as that is the way seems to be designed to be read. But later it was one of two poetry books I kept returning to and dipping into again and again at various moments.
It is expensive ( RRP $35.00 +$12.00 postage) but not for what you get. Cost is largely because of the inclusion size of paintings and photography which certainly add value to the poetry. This is a book to treasure. DH
A POOR CANTICLE
Kathryn Hamann
Shardlight
This thin volume of poetry entices the reader to keep dipping into it for many hours of fascinating discovery. There is an assortment of poetic forms. Simple triplets like Duck’s Wisdom connect immediately while the descriptive free-verse of Dawn Sky mesmerises with a minute-by-minute description of the break of day. There is also a variety of subject matter from the psalm-like A Leper Speaks to the atmospheric bush setting of Retreat Canticle. There are also challenges for a reader who is unfamiliar to the lives of St Francis or St Clare, or the workings of The Third Order. The anthology includes a number of Bible stories – seen from very different perspectives. It soon becomes apparent that book’s cover art and title are not as simple as they seem – they are pointers to a poetry collection of surprising depth and insight. For purchase details see www.shardlight.com. NS