reading Flap

Back in December I was lucky enough to win a drawing and get Catherine Flichett’s latest poetry book offering, Flap: The Chook Book 2.

Catherine is one of four poets, The Poetry Chooks (Kiwi slang for chicken), a group from Christchurch, New Zealand. The Hen House published Book 1 in 2004 and this volume in 2010.

You can get Flap and help New Zealanders put their lives back together after the recent earthquakes and aftershocks that have torn them apart.

The chooks have sold enough copies of Flap to cover its publication costs. All further sales will go directly to relief efforts (minus shipping costs, of course). Details are on Catherine’s blog, Still Standing on Her Head (which she named long before these recent quakes).

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Now for some thoughts about why getting this book is a grand idea, beyond giving to those in need.

The collection is rich in scene and voice. Each woman contributed 9-14 poems; each is organized in their own section: four chapbooks in one.

The poet’s voices are all distinct. While topics run the gamut, most of them speak to human relationships, present or past. Victoria Broome has a few “nature” poems that while conventional in reverence are still spirited and lovely. Catherine’s “nature” poem has a sporty turn to it, using human experience in a fresh way — the poem doesn’t seem to anthropomorphise, even thought it clearly does, but it engages the imagination with a new perspective. It also brings us a rich experience, mulling those incredible New Zealand trees.

The Poker Players

A cold wind has passed
down the street on horseback,
shooting up the town,
lashing his whip.

The poker players have made
their declaration: “I’m out”
and flung down their hand
of various golden suite.

Leaves lie in drifts –
the spade-like poplars,
lobed maples, and willow
pointed like diamonds.

The players stand about the saloon
grey and gaunt,
against a background
of imperturbable green.

Kowhair, manuka, ake ake;
the natives are still in the game.
They are keeping their cards
close to their chests.

If you’d like to read other poems to get a taste of what the book includes, Helen Lowe features one from each poet at her blog, and includes a biographical note as well.

Victoria Broome, “The Foreign Office” (Read the title poem here.)
Catherine Fitchett, “As Strong as Eggs” (Read “Blue” here.)
Barbara McCartney, “The Distance from Here to There” (Read her “Blue” here.)
Christina Stachurski, “The Charm of Archeology” (Read “Glass Cases” here.)

If you would like to read the other 44 poems, do get yourself a copy. I think you’ll be pleased.

Stoney Moss

dabble and whatnot, mostly poetry

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