Here is your chance to get a foretaste of Robyn Rowland's new book, Steep Curve, which will be published by 5 Islands Press in September. Robyn Rowland has recorded a sensitive and moving reading of one of many fine poems from the book, "This Dusk".
Robyn will need no introduction to most of you--especially those who are long-term followers of 5 Islands Press. Robyn is a former editor of the 5 Islands Press and this, her twelfth poetry book. will be seventh of her book published by the Press. She has been awarded Australia Council and Copyright Agency grants, and various writing residencies, and has won or been listed for many prizes including the ACU Poetry Prize, Newcastle Poetry Prize, Peter Porter Poetry Prize, the Journal of Australian and New Zealand Literature International Poetry prize and the Liquid Amber Poetry Prize. Her poetry appears in national and international journals in nine countries, and been included in eight editions of Best Australian Poems.
Robyn's book of final father poems documents her return, in December 2109, from Ireland to Australia, where she cared for her active, independent father, almost 100, through his final decline. The two, initially uncertain what’s happening, live together for two and a half years--a period which spanned the covid lockdown. They share the poet’s childhood home, which her father built 65 years before. Her sole caring grows their relationship through physical and emotional challenges, anger, frustration, loss and love. Drawn together in an intimacy few daughters or fathers experience, comfort for the poet lies in a practice she develops of observing daily ‘one lovely thing’.
The best way to experience Robyn's reading to play the post on our Facebook page. You can do this clicking on the Facebook icon at the bottom of the page, or going direct the post of Robyn's reading by clicking Robyn reads "This Dusk"
But if you don't, won't or can't use Facebook, you can listen to Robyn's reading of her poem by playing the SoundCloud track below..
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