poetsquib.com

Got my copies yesterday. Firstly let me just say for shame ArtsWA for cutting Westerly’s funding, under a Labour state government and all, what is the world coming to?

This issue came with a booklet of poetry Cleanskin (bad luck you people who thought this post was about wine) by the horribly talented and prolific writer Megan McKinlay. She wrote the children’s book Annabel, Again which 9- 12 year old girls love (look out for the fluro pink and turquoise cover at a bookshop near you)

It also came with a CD of McKinlay reciting her stuff (and additionally a wry poem on the act of recording). Well what can I say? It really is very good

What I think I appreciate most about these poems is their playful element (particularly ‘Looking for Les Murray’, loved it!). I think playfulness is a bit thin on the ground in Australian poetry these days. The other thing I really love is McKinlay’s beautiful control of words and imagery, such as here in ’Ancestor Games’

Here, our lavish bones crosshatch

the suburbs, push skyward

in columns of vehement stone

(Megan McKinlay, Cleanskin, page 4)

A simply wonderful debut and if you’re a betting person I think this poet is one to watch

*Cleanskin cover (above) designed by Robyn Mundy of Mundy Design, from a painting by Nevin Hirik ‘Morphing III’