Poetica Christi Press
EVERYDAY SPLENDOUR
Janette Fernando
This book is like being confronted with a smorgasbord and not being sure what to taste first. I read the winning poem, At the Edge of Day, by Robyn Rowland awarded first prize in the 2009 Poetica Christi Press poetry competition first and I can see why it was chosen. The imagery and the thoughts behind it are beautiful. This was followed by reading the second prize winner and all the other starred poems which had been commended.
As always happens with any anthology by different poets there were those that didn’t appeal to me. Yet I found others which had not been commended by the judge, delicate and interesting in language and the ideas expressed. Obviously those who compiled the anthology thought so too.
The poems are interspersed with full colour or black and white photographs which make this a charming gift book. At times I would have liked more colour photos or larger photos to complement the poems, but realise that would have added considerably to the cost. As it is it, is a good representation of poets writing from a spiritual perspective in Australia today. Some names were familiar to me from other places. Others were not. Still, the overall quality is excellent.
I liked that Everyday Splendour suggested to some poets brilliant coastal scenes while others saw beauty in cityscapes and everyday scenes of life that many would pass by without a second thought like A New Day or Tracks and Trails or the simple morning rituals of husband and wife in Everyday Splenda(that is not misspelt. You have to read the poem to understand the context of the title.) The definition of beauty despite difficulties behind She Walks in Beauty by David Campbell brought tears to my eyes.
Poems celebrate everything from a crumpled man holding daffodils or as the poet calls it clutching a fistful of sunlight,’ buying a new fedora, five layers of potting or ordinary household objects which display their own refection are one display along with brilliant scenes of glory, making this an interesting anthology. DH
REFLECTING ON MELBOURNE
Janette Fernando & Jean Sietzema-Dickson (Eds)
Poetica Christi Press
This exquisite book is a collection of poems, photographs and paintings which explore the city of Melbourne as seen by its poets and artists. It is a celebration of an iconic Australian city, paying homage to the original inhabitants, and delighting in river-scapes, buildings, historic landmarks, sculptures and buildings, and everything else which sums up the heart of that place. WN