September 2013 ~ Helen Hagemann

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Book Launch Invitation to "of Arc & Shadow"

Poem for the Day: Home to Roost by Kay Ryan

Home to Roost by Kay Ryan

The chickens
are circling and
blotting out the
day. The sun is
bright, but the
chickens are in
the way. Yes,
the sky is dark
with chickens,
dense with them.
They turn and
then they turn
again. These
are the chickens
you let loose
one at a time
and small—
various breeds.
Now they have
come home
to roost—all
the same kind
at the same speed.

See more at:http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20197

Poem for the Day: Is this Love?

Is this love?

the wind loose

and roses

on a path

filled with perfume

it stops me

along the lake

where we walk

in Dylan's moonlight

the night and your body

in it

the heady scratch of shadows

saturate

a lone cottage

crescent moons

of lemon

bob

in our gin

and

on our tongues

Cartoon for the Day: What's on the Menu?

Book Launch of Helen Hagemann's "of Arc & Shadow"

Dear Readers, Poets, Friends!

BOOK LAUNCH: 12th October, 2013

Now that the AFL Grand Final is over, here’s an invitation for you to the 12th October book launch of Helen Hagemann's poetry collection, of Arc & Shadow, published by Sunline Press. We would love to see you all there esp. old friends and new, and of course if you would kindly RSVP to Roland at Sunline Press (or Helen) @ hagemann.helen@gmail.com we would be better able to judge numbers for catering purposes.

Event: Launch "of Arc & Shadow" – a poetry collection.

Saturday 12th October, 2013 @ 2.00pm

Gallows Gallery

53 Glyde Street,

Mosman Park.

RSVP: Roland Leach - rleach@plc.wa.edu.au

Poem for the Day: Poker Machines

poker machines

make the darkness light up

it’s a garden of handiwork

screens nothing but a scene

letters cockatoos kookaburras

laughing overhead the poker

truth of music colour dazzle happy not

choosing nothing not even luck

the right hand punches the gloss

notes sidestep meals mum & the kids

your small pocket changes men

in moonlight black suits holding champagne flutes

your caprice is the roll & drop of heavy breath

plastic cards discharge

dollars roll down five “K’s” free spins

peachy! drizzle more money

into this bird island

no-man’s land that saps

your speech your time

your path to recovery

Update: My New Book Cover: of Arc & Shadow

Update: 10th September, 2013
I have been sent the . jpg cover which now means I can set up a Facebook author page, post the pic on my website as well as here on the blog. I am really thrilled with the production of the book, esp. the cover which is artwork by Sarah Robey. I have also been invited to read at "Voicebox" on 23rd September in Fremantle. The other two guests are Morgan Yasbincek and Neil J. Pattinson. I read with Morgan about three years ago when Voicebox was at the Tropicana Cafe, and met Neil and his lovely wife when they first attended the Perth Poetry Club at the Court Hotel in Northbridge. I was reading from Evangelyne & other poems. Neil loved the poem "First Sex" and bought the book. Synchronicity is the word for this next September gig.

Update: 4th September, 2013
Picked up the Proof copy of the book today. It's amazing how from previous days' edits and time in between there are still things to rectify. My poem titles are all in italics and there were three that were not. Also I have three section pages in the book: 1. Cool Hollows 2. Adventurers & 3. Family. Cool Hollows (in uniformity) was in italics, the other two not! Nevertheless I am grateful to Roland Leach of Sunline Press as he's been marvellous to work with. A cool, cool poet. The cover is absolutely amazing in book form, and the fish are growing on me, or should I say everything is swimmingly good.

28th August, 2013
First Draft of my new book cover arrived today. I am so pleased that the cover reflects the poetry. The design is built around one particular poem called - Surveyors of Arc and Shadow. There's a little hitch with the ampersand not being there, but this is minor; also my photo and bio placement on back cover. It's amazing, though, how my publisher Sunline Press is definitely tuned in to the work.