Perth Poetry Club 24 Aug: Jackson launches new book

I will launch my new book The emptied bridge, and read poems from it and from A coat of ashes.
Perth Poetry Club
Saturday 24 August
2-4pm
The Moon Cafe, 323 William Street, Northbridge map
 
Headshot of Jackson with book covers "A coat of ashes" and "The emptied bridge"

About The emptied bridge

The poems in Jackson’s fourth full-length collection explore themes of environment, society, gender, sexuality, parenthood, and daily life: the climate change of the world and the self. This is crafted, literary poetry, aware of its contemporaries and antecedents; yet these are poems that anyone with reasonable English can read or perform, that can break free from their author, go out and do work in the world. They encode rhythm and intonation along with possibilities of meaning. Their music will alter the atmosphere in your head. (Publisher’s description)

The emptied bridge explores isolation, connection, and landscapes internal and external. It is a wide-ranging collection that plays throughout with form, rhythm and technique. The poems are infused with intelligence, humour and a deep longing. Sometimes the language is haikuesque, delicate and light, sometimes it is philosophical or matter-of-fact, and often it is charged and raw. Jackson’s distinct voice captures the poignancy of loss and hope and the consolations of music, nature and colour. Edgy, visceral and muscular, The emptied bridge bravely carries its reader through experiences of shadow and light.
— Julie Watts (Legacy, UWA Publishing 2018, winner of the Dorothy Hewett Award for an Unpublished Manuscript)

The emptied bridge is published by Mulla Mulla Press.

The emptied bridge

The emptied bridge, my third full-length poetry collection.

‘The emptied bridge’ poetry book cover
 

From “soaked”

… We’re the flensing edge
of any of a hundred
newly risen
teeth

We’re the cornea
of a boy bodysurfing
beside an
outlet pipe …

The poems in Jackson’s third full-length collection explore themes of environment, society, gender, sexuality, parenthood, and daily life: the climate change of the world and the self. This is crafted, literary poetry, aware of its contemporaries and antecedents; yet these are poems that anyone with reasonable English can read or perform, that can break free from their author, go out and do work in the world. They encode rhythm and intonation along with possibilities of meaning. Their music will alter the atmosphere in your head. (Publisher’s description)

The emptied bridge explores isolation, connection, and landscapes internal and external. It is a wide-ranging collection that plays throughout with form, rhythm and technique. The poems are infused with intelligence, humour and a deep longing. Sometimes the language is haikuesque, delicate and light, sometimes it is philosophical or matter-of-fact, and often it is charged and raw. Jackson’s distinct voice captures the poignancy of loss and hope and the consolations of music, nature and colour. Edgy, visceral and muscular, The emptied bridge bravely carries its reader through experiences of shadow and light.
— Julie Watts (Legacy, UWA Publishing 2018, winner of the Dorothy Hewett Award for an Unpublished Manuscript)

Order your copy

Published in 2019 by Mulla Mulla Press. 132 pages. ISBN 9780648542438

Perth Poetry Festival: OOTA Cornucopia, Fremantle, 18 August 2019

Sunday 18 August 2019
3-5pm
The Orient Hotel, 39 High Street (cnr Henry Street), Fremantle
map
I’m one of the poets reading at OOTA Cornucopia, presented by Out of the Asylum Writers Group for the 2019 Perth Poetry Festival.

I will read poems from my latest books A coat of ashes and The emptied bridge.

The poets

Carolyn Abbs
Rita Tognini
Vivienne Glance
Jackson

Rose van Son
Tineke van der Eecken
Rachel Petridis
Kevin Gillam
Carol Millner

What a great line-up! We have ten minutes each. Come and listen.

2019 Perth Poetry Festival August 9-18