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- ANNE COLLINS
Review: 'Blast No. 9 Poetry and Critical
Writing'
Blast, the literary
biannual literary magazine specialising in high quality poetry and critical writing, lives
up to its website description as sturdy and discerning. Its A5 size is pleasing to
hold, its uncluttered and straightforward production values have an integrity reminiscent
of the unassuming poetry books from forty or more years ago. There is no need for any
design gimmick as its content speaks profoundly for itself.
The autumn/winter Issue No 9
features 17 accomplished poets whose work varies in form and subject. They include David
Wheatley, Morgan Yasbincek, Bruce Dawe, Sylvie Newman and Ron Pretty. The issue starts
with four poems from Jordie Albiston who is, to my mind, always interesting: mansfield
(k), miscellany, methinx (i), methinx (ii). I enjoy the familiar yet
arcane feel of her work and her playfulness with words: . . . who is the dog’s god
. . . My favourite is methinx (i) a poem in sms language which concludes . . . ths
lifes 2 short 4 a hero/(methinx it all means 0).
I was immediately engaged by
the works this issue of Blast, although not all of the poems were to my taste. It
is not my intention here to critique each poem: as a reader-poet I could certainly respond
more exactingly, here and there, to certain poems. However, some of the poems or lines
from poems that stood out include: . . . or a lone goat, tethered to a field it eats
tidy . . . from Ode by Petra White; You are like the regret I feel/when a
bird song ends. Wind . . . from Bird Song by John Millett; Hospital
Villanelle by Morgan Yasbincek; David Prater’s poem Poet Momentous that
takes an ironic look at the fashions and snobbery of poetry culture; the compact first
stanza of Chris Wallace-Crabbe’s Scenes from a Journey for aptly illustrating
how less is more and which reminded me of William Carlos-Williams; and the quiet power of The
Walkers by Bruce Dawe .
This issue of Blast ends
with two prose pieces – a review and an obituary that both roundly complement the
poetry.
I was particularly impressed
with a review by Elizabeth Campbell who is the Review and Features Editor of Blast. Her
intelligently honest and critical analysis of two books of poetry that had recently
won significant prizes led her to conclude with a question: what does it mean for the
state of poetry in Australia, that two such books should be so highly praised and awarded?
A question that seems to beg so many others. What impressed me was her ability to
state her case clearly in language that does not disguise itself in diplomacy or
euphemism, nor use a tone that is sneering or superior. It was also refreshingly free of
the congestion that comes with the language of academic literary criticism.
The second prose piece, an
obituary for Dorothy Porter by Jennifer Harrison, is impressive in its collegial
generosity and its personal fondness for the well-loved poet’s energetic
contributions to the life of poetry and the literary community.
I note at the time of writing
that the spring/summer issue of Blast No 10 is already out. My reading of issue
number 9 means I’ll be looking out for the next one.