Cirrus@Austlit

'An anthology of 138 stories selected by the judges of the Hunter Writer's Centre Grieve Writing Competition in honour of Grief Awareness month (August).' 

'Grieve 2016 judges uttered many comments after reading all the poetry and prose works submitted this year: ‘what a feast’, ‘such rich imagery’, ‘thank you for inviting me on this marvellous ramble’, ‘I feel honoured and challenged’, ‘what a privilege’, ‘rewarding’ and ‘humbling’. We believe our readers can also expect to feel honoured, challenged and moved by the wealth of literary beauty in this book. The pieces published here capture confusion, anger, avoidance, stoicism, acceptance, growth, forgiveness and hope in the face of loss and grief. These are only some of the emotions that grief may unearth. Now in its fourth year as a national project, there is no sign that writing about grief and grieving is finished. And when we consider how many stories and poems here show us unrecognised, ignored and avoided grief, we could say that Grieve storytelling has only just begun.' (Publication summary)

'On the river whose far bank is unknowable
there's a boat with your name on it.
The water birds stand on one leg and shiver their wings.
The blank-eyed fish kiss the tide's underbelly.
The horses lower their muzzles to drink.
Nothing lasts, not horses or mothers.
Meanwhile, the wind runs across the fields, the wind runs across the fields.

- from Not Horses, or Mothers by Lisa Jacobson

'Loss of a parent, a child, a job, a house, a pet and much more. Over 100 stories and poems about grief and loss in this 6th volume of the Grieve project.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'2020 is the 8th year of the Grieve Project. Since 2013, Australians have submitted poems and stories about their experience with parental grief, sibling grief, loss of a home and numerous other forms of grief and loss.

'2020 was a year of collective grief for Australia and the world. Yet the telling of grief here is much the same as in previous years. While tales of devastating bushfires and the crippling consequences of the coronavirus do feature in this anthology, its core remains unchanged: grief is universal arising from a multitude of experiences and we express it in myriad ways.

'Writing about grief is a most noble expression. This anthology exposes that nobility and humility. It also gives us, the readers, hope.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A few hours after your death, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower peaked, lighting up the sky with shooting stars. It gave us a way to mark your splendour.
~ Splendour in Darkness by Polly Watkins

'Grieve volume 9 features poems and stories by Australians living all over the world. This anthology is in honour of Grief Awareness month.' (Publication summary)