Robert reading and in conversation with his Flood Editions USA editor/publisher & poet Devin Johnston, with readings by Sarah Holland-Batt and Michele Seminara.
The very sad news is that Robert Adamson is gravely ill.
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Normally, I’d not think twice about the mention here of a literary event—a book launch—yet I’m vaguely aware that doing so on this occasion could possibly be construed as no more than zeroing in on a topical note of interest.
However….
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When Tim Thorne fell ill, I found myself hesitant to engage, ask how he was going … generally, just unwilling to intrude. In retrospect, it was a rubbishy form of interaction on my part—albeit under trying circumstances. I regret I didn’t make a greater effort…. Physically, Tim was slowing down, but mentally he was still off and running…. We shared a moment together, one session during the 2021 Tasmanian Poetry Festival. The state election had been called that very day, and scheduled for the 1st May. I made some reference to it, to which Tim quickly replied oh yes, and that’s going to put a very different interpretation on May Day, isn’t it? and he laughed.
I should also have said, oh by the way I appreciate and admire you so very much; for your generosity, for all you’ve achieved…. But I didn’t.
So goodbye rubbishy decisions.
I don’t know Bob Adamson’s work well, and my indirect association with him has only occurred since he provided back cover blurbs for one or two of the poetry collections I’ve published (Vanessa Page’s ‘Confessional Box’ comes to mind) some years ago. My belated appreciation of his poetry is due to the arrival in our home of a copy of the 2016 anthology ‘Contemporary Australian Poetry’ (Puncher & Wattman), where the work of poets is, according to surname, arranged in alphabetical order. Such a great anthology, so many very fine poems, but I always experienced difficulty getting past the opening five poems in the book—Adamson’s—’Via Negativa: The Divine Dark’, especially. Such fine poems all…. Bless you Bob for making vivid, and sharing, your perceptions.