Quadrant published Andrew’s poem “Women with Infants” in its January-February 2012 issue. The magazine also published Andrew’s poems “Seize the Day”, “Pink Tones” and “Stargazing” in its April 2012 issue. “Pink Tones” is reproduced below:
Pink Tones
.
To the sporadic pull
of the air’s clear rope
.
the hibiscus blossom
sways and swings
.
but its pistil tongue
still cannot strike
.
the wall of the bell,
which peals out
.
not sound but colour.
.
© Andrew Lansdown
The Canberra Times newspaper published two tanka by Andrew on 24 March 2012. Under the overarching heading “Outback Eagles”, the first tanka is titled “Prey”, while the second is titled “Poise”. The second is reproduced below:
2. Pose
.
A wedgetail eagle
on a kangaroo carcass
beside the highway
strikes up a majestic pose
as if it had made the kill.
.
© Andrew Lansdown
The National Library of Australia has published two of Andrew’s poems – “At the Close of Summers to Come” and “Caterpillars” – in an anthology titled Little Book of Butterflies (ISBN 9780642277404).
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As stated in the blurb on the back cover, “Little Book of Butterflies, is a delightful blending of images of Australian butterflies, from the Librarys collections, with Australian poetry. In the hands of artists such as Ellis Rowan, Harriet and Helena Scott, John Lewin and Charles McCubbin, the transience and beauty of these delicate creatures enliven the words of inspiration, hope and reflection by well-known poets including Judith Wright, Andrew Lansdown, Dorothy Shaw, Diane Fahey and Mudrooroo. A gorgeous showcase of butterfly illustrations and poetry, Little Book of Butterflies will appeal to all those searching for a perfect gift or a beautiful publication to savour for themselves.”
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The National Library of Australia has published poems by Andrew in two other anthologies: The Little Book of Trees and The Little Book of Cats, and has requested permission to use another of his poems in the forthcoming anthology, Little Book of Banksias.
Fremantle Press has just published a book of Brian Simmonds’ paintings of the Swan River. The painter has chosen two of Andrew’s poems to accompany two of his paintings.Fishing
for Susan
Six of Andrew’s poems have been included in the new 1108 page anthology, Australian Poetry Since 1788, edited by Geoffrey Lehmann and Rober Gray and published by the University of New South Wales Press.
The rationale for the antholgy is stated on the inside jacket:
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“A good poem is one that the world can’t forget or is delighted to rediscover. This landmark anthology of Australian poetry, edited by two of Australia’s foremost poets, Geoffrey Lehmann and Robert Gray, contains such poems. It is the first of its kind for Australia and promises to become a classic.
“Included here are Australia’s major poets, and lesser-known but equally affecting ones, and all manifestations of Australian poetry since 1788, from concrete poems to prose poems, from the cerebral to the naïve, from the humorous to the confessional, and from formal to free verse. Translations of some striking Aboriginal song poems are one of the high points.
“Containing over 1000 poems from 170 Australian poets, as well as short critical biographies, this careful reevaluation of Australian poetry makes this a superb book that can be read and enjoyed over a lifetime.”
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The poems the editors selected from Andrew’s body of work are: “Four Men”; “The Grasshopper Heart”; “A Good Night”; “The Muff Bees”; “Warrior-Monk”; and “Lighting a Match”.
Retailing for $69.95, Australian Poetry Since 1788 can be purchased from bookshops, or from the publisher at: http://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/isbn/9781742232638.htm
Several reviews of Australian Poetry Since 1788 can be found here:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/poetic-justice/story-e6frg8n6-1226145770823
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/1788-and-all-that-verse-20110930-1l0x4.html
Australian Poetry Ltd has produced a second edition of Dear Dad, which includes a poem, “In from the Garden”, by Andrew.
Celebrating dads, this anthology makes an attractive alternative to the average Father’s Day card. It includes fine poems about dads from poets across the country. This is the second and final edition of Dear Dad.
The second edition features a new original cover design by Melbourne artists Gracia & Louise.
Order copies of Dear Dad from the Australian Poetry website here.
The June issue of Quadrant contains Andrew’s poem “Being Bamboo”. You can read it on the Quadrant website: https://www.quadrant.org.au/magazine/issue/2011/6/being-bamboo
Dave Osborne recently requested permission to use some of Andrew’s poems on his WalkGPS website, which is dedicated to bushwalking in the Perth (WA) region. He has now posted two of Andrew’s poems – “Desertion” and “Tanka”. To read them, follow the links in the 7 June 2011 “What’s New” entry at http://www.walkgps.com/what’s{622e8f302d1fb91812edd8a3c16e0696cd1f0e82e697b7a9609cca725af619bb}20new.htm While there, take a cyberwalk through the site: it is quite impressive.
Quadrant magazine has published five of Andrew’s poems in its May 2011 issue. One of the five is a gunsaku, “Seven Birds”, consisting of seven tanka. The first of the seven bird tanka is written in slant (half) rhyme and reads:
Bird and Bull
The dotterel,
stalking, sniping—so little
by the muzzle
and muddy hoof of the bull
drinking at the dam’s puddle.
© Andrew Lansdown
Read the remaining six tanka in “Seven Birds” on the Quadrant website: http://www.quadrant.org.au/magazine/issue/2011/5/seven-birds
Andrew’s other poems can also be read on the Quadrant website:
“In Dependence” –
http://www.quadrant.org.au/magazine/issue/2011/5/in-dependence
“Wheatbelt Willy-Willy” and “The Gravity of the Slight” –
http://www.quadrant.org.au/magazine/issue/2011/5/two-poems
“Spores” –
http://www.quadrant.org.au/magazine/issue/2011/5/seven-birds