Anywhy

by Jennifer Harrison

Jennifer Harrison's Anywhy is exceptional. The depth and lightly carried learning of the author, as we embrace each poem, is startling. We are philosophically shaken. Her title Anywhy may suggest the cool shrug of 'whatever' but Harrison's neologism is a steady-eyed consideration of the world: its ecology, its history, its fragilities and resilience. Her insight is subtle but never vague, inviting our imagination to consider the inner life of birds, the emotive pull of hardware, Emma Hamilton a reveerie at Blackwood Village (from which the title emerges), DNA or Absolute Zero. Above all, it scintillates with human sorrow and human response.

78 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

About the author

Jennifer Harrison has published eight poetry collections, most recently Air Variations (University of Canberra, 2017) and Anywhy (Black Pepper, 2018). She manages The Dax Poetry Collection, housed at The Dax Centre at the University of Melbourne. She was awarded the 2012 Christopher Brennan Award for sustained contribution to Australian poetry.