Fish Song

by Caitlin Maling

Maling’s new work is rich and diverse, exploring physical landscapes as well as historical and socio-cultural aspects of place. In her latest, deeply personal, collection Maling travels the coast of Western Australia writing about what the ocean provides—fish, livelihoods, sand and the ever-present sea breeze. In doing so she questions what poetry might offer by way of solace and reconnection in an age of climate change.

Genres: Poetry

128 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2019

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenges: Aussie April/National Poetry Month. I feel I have been to Western Australia for a short time, driving up the coast north and back again with Maling. Reading this collection compels searching online for local slang, flora and fauna, and geographic locations. Portions of these poems depict how the local fauna are at the whims and vagaries of humans who stand outside the balance of life. How beauty of the relentlessly encroaching ocean contrasts with the harshness of permanent out-of-body living and impermanent abodes both shack and body. Living in a desert sans the ocean, I am able to relate to the heat, dust, and fires of Maling's environment - the mundane acceptance and the overwhelming beauty.

[Holden Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maling's poetry collection is quintessentially West Australian in its thematic concerns and metaphors, drawing on rich imagery of both nature - like the poems written and set in the fishing shack settlement of Grey - and the urban sprawl and decay of Perth and its inner suburbs, to which the poem "Aubade" feels like an ode. The title poem, near the end of the collection, echoes the poems of the beginning of the book that tackle the illness and seemingly impending death of the poet's father. Beautiful and touching poetry sparkles throughout this volume.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I’ve not yet had the opportunity to go to Western Australia, Maling’s poetry made me feel I was there, looking through both my own eyes seeing the landscape for the first time, and the poet’s, with her intimate and personal knowledge of the land on the other side.
‘Childhood Shack Blessing’ particularly spoke to me. Just lovely.

[Josephine Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dance between landscape and the language of those who dwell there. Family and adulthood. A wonderfully West Australian voice.

[Elly Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evocative Perthy poetry !

[Deanne Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times humorous and intriguing.