Cirrus@Austlit

'A serious-looking cover of rich, dark brown with white lettering, some of the word “broken” falling apart and down, but also it seemed possibly forming as well a set of difficult steps to climb back up? A glossy finish, and the book design seems deliberately reminiscent of the more well-produced protest poem books of the early to mid-20th century. The style intrigued me, with its retro feeling. A definite fresh approach evident too. Reassuring to gather a signal of what to expect.' (Introduction)

'Annamaria Weldon has produced an impressive collection with Stone Mother Tongue. Her imagery has some lovely naturalistic twists and turns with some breath-taking phrases. These are well crafted poems featuring lively, lithe lines, and gorgeous situations like in the ’16 Haiku for Lakelands Library Windows’, where Weldon mentions:'

Five black swans fly home
at nightfall, singing their way
through the starless sky'

 (Introduction)

'Such hope in the title on a smart looking small book, then a rather sweetly distressed illustration, but still a lovely white feather on the cover. A sense of danger and also a lightness about it. In the work itself, amusement is ably shown and echoes of chances to live better or rethink some attitude, with variations on family life, friendships, love affairs, and other serious, close human matters. Many fine lines offer a sense of positivity and urgency. The language itself is ordered in ways to delight, puzzle and inform.' (Introduction)