THIS INTIMATE WAR — ROBYN ROWLAND

Robyn Rowland featured poet

Robyn Rowland was a sensation at A Brush with Poetry in Binalong on Sunday. Reading from her latest books This Intimate War (2^nd edition, Spinifex Press 2018) and Mosaics from the Map (Doíre Press 2018), she had the audience hanging off every word and no wonder. The poems are narratives and histories with luscious words winging from young love to curdling life, from the taste of desire to the shredding noise of war. The bilingual collection This Intimate War is unique in that it sings the stories of all sides — the soldiers and child soldiers, the wives and mothers, the grandfathers, friends, family, lovers. Children of Gallipoli and Production Lines are two of the most poignant poems you could read. Victoria-based, Robyn has just returned from Ireland (where she lives half the year) and Turkey. We are so fortunate to have her join us in Binalong during one of her Canberra trips.

Poets and performers participating in the shared mike included Colin Campbell (also guest emcee), Janne Graham, Lindsay, Andrew McDonald and Janette Pieloor from Canberra, Ron Hoile from Boorowa, Peter Rose from Yass. Robyn Sykes (Coordinator and Deputy President of Binalong Arts Group) and myself (BAG & Brush committee member) also performed.

A Brush with Poetry is held on the last Sunday of odd months at the Black Swan Gallery. It attracts a great mix of poets and poetry lovers from Binalong, surrounding regional towns and Canberra. 

You can hear a pin drop when Colin Campbell (guest co-MC) reads his own work

 Always delighted to hear Janette Pieloor (above) and Janne Graham (below) read new work

Janne Graham with Robyn Sykes Coordinator & co-MC

Lindsay whose name escapes me — apologies — always has us in stitches