I attended my first book launch on Sunday, and it was fantastic.
The after-party wasn’t too bad either — I like hanging out with intelligent, cultured people. :-)
The event launched the second book of poetry by my friend Erin Noteboom. It’s called SEAL UP THE THUNDER, and the content is inspired by the Bible, and assorted Catholic & Christian iconography.
Quite simply, it’s a superb piece of work: moving, funny, melancholy, and with a depth that can’t be measured in fathoms.
Plus, when Erin reads her poetry, she does so with a soft cadence that lulls the listener into a quieter, gentler world…and she did it while suffering the dregs of a nasty flu. Bravo!
You can visit Erin’s website here.
My personal favourite poem in the collection is the Acta Thomae — one of the first poems by Erin that I ever read. However, at the book launch, I was introduced to another poem that struck a chord with me. It’s called Delilah, on contradictions, and I include it here as a taste of the book (copyright to Erin’s genious):
He burned my country
and I loved him. I betrayed him
and he stayed. He killed my brothers
and I held him. I betrayed him
and he stayed. What’s between us
I can’t tell you — musk and lust,
a lion’s skin, dark mane tangled
with the tawny, blood and honey
on the wind. I cut his hair
because he told me, I loved him soft,
I loved him hard — so I broke him
with a razor, wove his hair
into my heart.
This deserves a Governor-General Award. Sure, I’m biased, but it doesn’t stop the book from being absolutely stunning. Buy it NOW!
