Guarding the Flame

by Majella Cullinane

Taking its title from the myth surrounding St Bridgid's flame in Kildare, Ireland, Guarding the Flame explores women's voices from Irish history and myth, from the every day woman in the market who imagines herself transformed if only briefly, to the voice of the river goddess Sionna, to Joyce's Nora Barnacle. The collection contains poems of nature, of myth, of travel in Europe, Nepal, and Africa. There are poems examining belonging/unbelonging, metamorphosis, inconstancy, and the country where Majella Cullinane currently resides, New Zealand. Guarding the Flame is her debut collection.

Genres: Poetry

70 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2012

Reviews

[Thalia]

were her images and metaphors repetitive? yes. but i’m a sucker for some good nature poetry, especially when it’s so full of content and quiet joy

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Majella Cullinane is an Irish poet who has recently emigrated to New Zealand. I heard her read her poetry earlier this week, enjoyed hearing her poems very much, bought this book (her debut collection), and have now read it - a sign of how much I'm enjoying her poetry, all the more so as she is predominantly a lyric poet, which isn't normally my preferred mode. These are fine poems, covering her old life in Ireland, her new life in New Zealand, and the transition between the two. There are also some poems that range outside the lyric mode, and I especially enjoyed a number of these. This collection is well worth reading if you like Irish poetry or New Zealand poetry - or if you just like poetry.