Cirrus@Austlit

'Kairós is Fotoula Reynolds' fourth poetry collection. In this delightful volume Fotoula once again seamlessly blends vocabulary from the English and Greek languages. This interplay represents her two worlds, with integral themes of time, place, belonging, friendship, loss and grief. This journey is towards enlightenment-appropriately, Fotoula means 'light of god' in Greek. Full of practical philosophy, woven throughout the book are poems describing the deep pain and loneliness that comes with having loved: 'Grief comes and/Goes as it pleases'. Memories of precious moments spent with a dear friend are interspersed with the anguish of knowing that such opportunities are finite. Yet there is beauty in bereavement echoed in the elements, in nature, in shared moments. In other poems, we are invited into Fotoula's childhood home in Melbourne, Australia, while others are inspired by her Greek heritage.Individually, each poem is a work of art; in combination, a strong narrative emerges with an overarching motif of time. In Kairós Fotoula gently reminds us to make the best use of the time available, right now, through her deep-rooted philosophy, with her trademark disposition of love, friendship, gratitude and grace.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Launched into motherhood while still struggling to find her place in the world, Wendy is unprepared for the wall of silence that now separates her from her only child. Wondering where she went wrong, she is forced to examine the past in search for clues, to discover the source of the estrangement. Wendy’s journey is one of love, sacrifice and courage, describing her determination to overcome addiction and a series of troubled relationships to ensure her child is given every opportunity for success and happiness. Now she faces her greatest challenge – to win her child back.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'A verse drama of fifteen sonnets based on many reports of abuse and neglect in Australian nursing homes. Written specifically for live performance, it covers imagined events during the final weeks of an elderly man's life.'  (Publication summary)

'It is becoming increasingly clear that we all need to contribute to ensure the survival of our planet; new narratives are urgently called for. Ecopoetry has become a genre within which poets put up a searching and at times brutally honest lens through which to consider climate change, loss of biodiversity, the pollution of our air and water, and environmentally damaging industries such as mining and deforestation.

'Poetry for the Planet showcases the work of one hundred poets from Australia and New Zealand. Despite an astonishing variety in style, poems are united in their plea to all of us to forge a new relationship with our fractured world, and move from an attitude of short-term exploitation to one of nourishment and sustainability.'  (Publication summary)

'Eclectic Creators Unite is a diverse group of 289 writers and artists and has been running for over four years without a break. Yvette Stubbs created ECU to encourage and support shared self-expression in many artistic forms. Members, predominantly poets, write and create artworks to ECU themes and post their fresh work each week.'  (Publication summary)

'Take a walk with Kathleen Panettieri Down a Cobblestone Lane. It is the journey of a lifetime; you will meet her ancestors and find out how her immigrant parents - one Greek, one Irish - shaped their future in Australia. In giving tribute to her heritage, Kathleen steps onto the path with intention, ready to embrace life to the full, providing ample subject matter for the 134 poems in this, her second book. There is much love in these lines, mixed with strength, courage and wisdom; there are struggles and triumphs, losses and affirmations. Following cancer treatment in 2016, writing these poems provided comfort and a useful distraction; now, cancer-free, they are tangible proof that Kathleen continues to live her motto: 'Life is for celebrating.'  Yes, this is a book of poems, but it is also a multi-faceted story that will be loved by poetry lovers and all who love a great narrative.'  (Publication summary)

'Adoption in the twentieth century was messy, as it turned out. The mass practice of forced removal of babies from 'undeserving' mothers and inserting them into 'worthy, middle class' families was to have dire consequences for many.

'This memoir documents one adoptee's story after discovering, at age 27, that she was adopted, forcing her to re-evaluate her life in light of this new knowledge.

'Created over more than three decades, these poems have been curated as a powerful narrative, highlighting key issues that are both individual and universal. The story of adoption is polyphonic and diverse. While this story is unique, reflecting one adoptee's lived experience, these lines will resonate with others who have found themselves in the tangled chaotic web of adoption. Perhaps it will also help those who have not been adopted themselves, but who wish to understand what might be happening for an adoptee in their lives.

'Why poetry? As Julia Kaylock has found, poetry tells the truth in a way prose cannot. However, Child of the Clouds is not just for poetry lovers, anyone who loves a good story will find this a fascinating read.

'Included in the book is a section that discusses various aspects of adoption in the twentieth century that relate to the key themes of this book.' (Publication summary)