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Devil In The Wind: An anthology of voices from the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires
Devil In The Wind is an account of catastrophic fire and its immediate aftermath.
In this 21st century, the whole world seems to be on fire. America burns. Europe burns. Greece is reeling after its own tragedy of fire.
And Australia burns, as it has always done, but now so much more fiercely.
In February 2009, wildfires burnt through entire communities, taking 173 lives and injuring hundreds, while destroying thousands of houses and other buildings. Up to 400 fires destroyed 450,000 hectares of forest, native fauna and habitat, livestock and farmland.
In the aftermath of the fires, the voices of people who had lived through the experience — victims, rescuers, and observers — were spoken and were heard.
Devil In The Wind is Frank Prem’s poetic anthology of the personal, and very human, accounts of those who themselves experienced and survived Black Saturday. Poetry writing that interacts directly with readers emotions.
In this 21st century, the whole world seems to be on fire. America burns. Europe burns. Greece is reeling after its own tragedy of fire.
And Australia burns, as it has always done, but now so much more fiercely.
In February 2009, wildfires burnt through entire communities, taking 173 lives and injuring hundreds, while destroying thousands of houses and other buildings. Up to 400 fires destroyed 450,000 hectares of forest, native fauna and habitat, livestock and farmland.
In the aftermath of the fires, the voices of people who had lived through the experience — victims, rescuers, and observers — were spoken and were heard.
Devil In The Wind is Frank Prem’s poetic anthology of the personal, and very human, accounts of those who themselves experienced and survived Black Saturday. Poetry writing that interacts directly with readers emotions.
- GenresPoetryNonfiction
Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2019
3 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Frank Prem
59 books108 followersFrank Prem has been a storytelling poet for forty years. When not writing or reading his poetry to an audience, he fills his time by working as a psychiatric nurse.
He has been published in magazines, zines and anthologies, in Australia and in a number of other countries, and has both performed and recorded his work as ‘spoken word’.
He lives with his wife, in the beautiful township of Beechworth in northeast Victoria (Australia).
Franks web page is located at: www.FrankPrem.com.
YouTube video of Frank reading 'callignee butterflies', from Devil In The Wind.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 26, 2019
February 2009 is a year that most of us will never forget. This was the year when 173 people lost their lives and many more were injured due to the horrendous fires that tore through communities in Victoria.
This is the first piece of poetry I’ve ever read and it certainly won’t be my last. Aussie author Frank Prem has done a superb job in writing Devil In The Wind. Thank you Frank for introducing me to poetry. Highly recommended.
This is the first piece of poetry I’ve ever read and it certainly won’t be my last. Aussie author Frank Prem has done a superb job in writing Devil In The Wind. Thank you Frank for introducing me to poetry. Highly recommended.
April 2, 2019
Outstanding! Aussie author Frank Prem’s Devil in the Wind is made up of the voices of survivors of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, where 173 people perished, and complete townships were wiped off the map. Heartbreaking – as we know it was – the beautifully constructed verse took me back to those dreadful days where the firestorms were so fierce it seemed there was nothing anyone could do but watch and wait and hope...
I’m not normally a reader of poetry, but Devil in the Wind captured the essence of 7th February 2009 and the days and weeks afterwards, with eloquence and ease. Beautifully written, the author has given a human voice to those who matter. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not normally a reader of poetry, but Devil in the Wind captured the essence of 7th February 2009 and the days and weeks afterwards, with eloquence and ease. Beautifully written, the author has given a human voice to those who matter. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2019
Very moving, beautiful, and terrible. This book is more than I can adequately describe, so bear with me here. It’s a poignant account of a terrible event, which, living on another continent, I had heard of, but didn’t properly take in.
It’s not a gruesome book, just incredibly moving: a salute, in a way. The author has taken the words of those who witnessed and survived the tragedy and woven them into poetry. I do hope that in some manner it brings these people catharsis and at least a few nights of undisturbed sleep.
When people die so terribly they deserve to be honoured and remembered around the world. I was left with a profound sense of respect, as well as a reminder that we should never take for granted every precious every moment of life. What can we do to live the life we were born to, given that some have never had the chance?
It’s not a gruesome book, just incredibly moving: a salute, in a way. The author has taken the words of those who witnessed and survived the tragedy and woven them into poetry. I do hope that in some manner it brings these people catharsis and at least a few nights of undisturbed sleep.
When people die so terribly they deserve to be honoured and remembered around the world. I was left with a profound sense of respect, as well as a reminder that we should never take for granted every precious every moment of life. What can we do to live the life we were born to, given that some have never had the chance?
June 15, 2019
Devil in the Wind is not an ordinary collection of poems as this book tell the story of the awful fires that ravaged parts of Australia in February 2009, destroying homes, livestock, forests and people. Each poems gives a different and unique insight into the effect of the fires on different people in different roles in society, including the firefighters, as well as description of how they reacted to the fires, with fighting spirit, brazenness, prayer or despair.
I live in a country that is also plagued by raging fires from time to time and I have felt the fear of being undecided as to whether to fight or flee. If you make the wrong decision you can needlessly loose everything or you can end up dead, along with your family. Frank Prem has captured the turbulent emotions, confusion and conflict that people experience during times of crisis. He also captures the spirit of survival and the ability of people to rally and recover.
A few of the stanza's that captured my imagination in this book are as follows:
"a young fella went up
to the hamper
crawled right inside it
buried himself in the clothes
and wouldn't come out
took two and a half hours
to get him to speak"
From ever again
"the sound I heard
was like ten or twelve jumbo jets
down at the airport
all screaming their guts out
at the same time"
From evidence to the commission of enquiry: overview
I would recommend this book to both lovers of poetry and people who are interested in historical events. Frank Prem's poetry is powerful, but easy to read and understand. A most enjoyable book.
I live in a country that is also plagued by raging fires from time to time and I have felt the fear of being undecided as to whether to fight or flee. If you make the wrong decision you can needlessly loose everything or you can end up dead, along with your family. Frank Prem has captured the turbulent emotions, confusion and conflict that people experience during times of crisis. He also captures the spirit of survival and the ability of people to rally and recover.
A few of the stanza's that captured my imagination in this book are as follows:
"a young fella went up
to the hamper
crawled right inside it
buried himself in the clothes
and wouldn't come out
took two and a half hours
to get him to speak"
From ever again
"the sound I heard
was like ten or twelve jumbo jets
down at the airport
all screaming their guts out
at the same time"
From evidence to the commission of enquiry: overview
I would recommend this book to both lovers of poetry and people who are interested in historical events. Frank Prem's poetry is powerful, but easy to read and understand. A most enjoyable book.
March 22, 2019
I recieved this book for free as a giveaway on another website. Many thanks to the author. This is an honest review.
This book is absolutely awesome. It’s vivid depictions of first-hand wildfire evacuations and fights is unreal. It is as if the reader is experiencing these horrors first hand. A short but gripping read.
This book is absolutely awesome. It’s vivid depictions of first-hand wildfire evacuations and fights is unreal. It is as if the reader is experiencing these horrors first hand. A short but gripping read.
April 4, 2019
Haunting, terrible, and beautiful all at once. A collection of poems inspired by the bushfires in Australia, told from a range of perspectives. There may have been a tear or two.
June 25, 2019
DEVIL IN THE WIND
BY
FRANK PREM
Having just completed, “Small Town Kid” I was looking forward to reading Devil In the Wind. Unlike “Small Town” the Devil is more serious. It stands to reason that Black Saturday 2009 was no laughing matter, therefore, the light-heartedness of Small Town was gone. In its place is a series of poems depicting the fear, the loss, the camaraderie, the failure, in first person but to my mind still personal stories. Frank masters the art of combining empathy with detachment, educating the reader with word pictures that make the horror, devastation and the smell of destruction so real you feel as though you are among the crowd. Unlike ‘Small Town’ which you can’t put down ‘Devil’ calls for rest and recuperation from your armchair, to fully appreciate the horror. However, if you need a lesson in courage, or feel sorry for yourself “Devil In The Wind” like a good (Scottish) mother gets you thinking and your feet back on the ground.
BY
FRANK PREM
Having just completed, “Small Town Kid” I was looking forward to reading Devil In the Wind. Unlike “Small Town” the Devil is more serious. It stands to reason that Black Saturday 2009 was no laughing matter, therefore, the light-heartedness of Small Town was gone. In its place is a series of poems depicting the fear, the loss, the camaraderie, the failure, in first person but to my mind still personal stories. Frank masters the art of combining empathy with detachment, educating the reader with word pictures that make the horror, devastation and the smell of destruction so real you feel as though you are among the crowd. Unlike ‘Small Town’ which you can’t put down ‘Devil’ calls for rest and recuperation from your armchair, to fully appreciate the horror. However, if you need a lesson in courage, or feel sorry for yourself “Devil In The Wind” like a good (Scottish) mother gets you thinking and your feet back on the ground.
August 16, 2019
A couple years ago, there was a huge fire in Fort McMurray, Canada. I heard about it on the news but that was about it. Frank's poetry in Devil in the wind reminded me of that fire and connected me with the hardships and anguish that people go through in times of such catastrophes. Poetry has a way of expressing large sentiments in minimal words and Frank does an amazing job of showing perspectives of numerous people who were affected. He also made me think about some bigger questions like what can one really do during a fire? What is it like to come back to a home that does not exist? And many more that he answered through his poems.
This is a beautiful collection of rhyme, bringing the reader closer to the disaster that happened in Australia, and at the same time, anywhere where fires cause havoc and destruction. I really enjoyed reading it and am thankful to Frank for reaching out to me, thinking I would like this book. He was absolutely right!
This is a beautiful collection of rhyme, bringing the reader closer to the disaster that happened in Australia, and at the same time, anywhere where fires cause havoc and destruction. I really enjoyed reading it and am thankful to Frank for reaching out to me, thinking I would like this book. He was absolutely right!
July 19, 2019
Superb writing, compelling reading.
I started this book thinking to read a few poems about this tragic event, but couldn't stop until I had finished. Through the first-hand accounts the reader finds himself right there in the midst of the inferno!
The author has skillfully meshed the various voices into a gripping account of the catastrophe, and manages to sound a note of resilience and hope in spite of the destruction.
I started this book thinking to read a few poems about this tragic event, but couldn't stop until I had finished. Through the first-hand accounts the reader finds himself right there in the midst of the inferno!
The author has skillfully meshed the various voices into a gripping account of the catastrophe, and manages to sound a note of resilience and hope in spite of the destruction.
March 25, 2019
I received this copy as an ARC - and it's a good thing it was an eARC. I laughed at one point, at the irony of the moment depicted, that end moment when we decide it's all over and we might as well ... and you have to read the rest of it to find out what that means, and how such a poignant and heart-rending work can also elicit a solid guffaw.
The melt-downs, emotional, physical, structural - in Australia, it's not uncommon, but what is uncommon is how this book of poetry allows us to live with the people in that moment.
This is a rare and deeply felt story - yes, it's a whole story - written in such a way that you'll laugh and cry, despair and rage, fear and beg ... you will not forget.
The melt-downs, emotional, physical, structural - in Australia, it's not uncommon, but what is uncommon is how this book of poetry allows us to live with the people in that moment.
This is a rare and deeply felt story - yes, it's a whole story - written in such a way that you'll laugh and cry, despair and rage, fear and beg ... you will not forget.
March 25, 2019
I live in the US and though I recall these fires, I never knew the personal stories behind them. Frank Prem instantly grips you by the throat in his step-by-step story of survival. I was especially taken because he told the story through poetry, which I've never related to this way. It was stark and vivid, the language of a survivor. It's a quick read, but trust me, this book will stay with you. Bravo!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2019
“Devil in the Wind: Voices from the 2009 Black Saturday Bush Fires,” is a book of poetry by Australian poet, Frank Prem, about horrific wildfires across the Australian state of Victoria in 2009. The preface includes descriptions of the physical and trauma effects in the victims' own words. As the book moves along, the poems describe in graphic and statistical detail the scope of the damage to people, places, and things during the fires.
Much of the format of Frank's poetry is stream of consciousness, as expressed from various perspectives, including rescue personnel, those manning the fire watch towers, those who outwitted death, the loved ones of those who didn't survive, and witnesses of horrific pain and suffering. Frank effectively captures the angst and dread of being trapped in what amounts to a living hell for every living thing trapped in a million acres burning.
About twenty percent at the end of the book relates the lingering affects of the trauma after the fires were gone. It talks about survivors returning to their properties, cities existing only as coordinates on a map, and children struggling to get beyond what they experienced during the fires. It is difficult to read what the fire investigation reveals.
Although the book is finished, Frank continues to learn of others' stories in connection with the fires. He says, “and perhaps it [capturing the stories] must go on to ensure we remember to ensure survivors can still tell their tales and to ensure there is a place of safekeeping a refuge for these stories forged in hell.” --Frank Prem. Devil in the Wind (Kindle Locations 1677-1683). Wild Arancini Press.
Standout poems for me were, “like a duck on a lake,” “portraits in green and gold,” “the strength of a truckie,” ”kinglake still,” and “old man roo returns.”
Final impressions: While, and after, reading Frank's poems, the many haunting images contained within the poems add up to a profound impact on me as the reader. What Frank says about “ensur[ing] there is a place of safekeeping... for these stories forged in hell” is both noble and vital. The scribes preserve precious realities that link us to what it means to be sentient creatures on planet earth. It's important for humans, now and in the future, to remember these stories.
Much of the format of Frank's poetry is stream of consciousness, as expressed from various perspectives, including rescue personnel, those manning the fire watch towers, those who outwitted death, the loved ones of those who didn't survive, and witnesses of horrific pain and suffering. Frank effectively captures the angst and dread of being trapped in what amounts to a living hell for every living thing trapped in a million acres burning.
About twenty percent at the end of the book relates the lingering affects of the trauma after the fires were gone. It talks about survivors returning to their properties, cities existing only as coordinates on a map, and children struggling to get beyond what they experienced during the fires. It is difficult to read what the fire investigation reveals.
Although the book is finished, Frank continues to learn of others' stories in connection with the fires. He says, “and perhaps it [capturing the stories] must go on to ensure we remember to ensure survivors can still tell their tales and to ensure there is a place of safekeeping a refuge for these stories forged in hell.” --Frank Prem. Devil in the Wind (Kindle Locations 1677-1683). Wild Arancini Press.
Standout poems for me were, “like a duck on a lake,” “portraits in green and gold,” “the strength of a truckie,” ”kinglake still,” and “old man roo returns.”
Final impressions: While, and after, reading Frank's poems, the many haunting images contained within the poems add up to a profound impact on me as the reader. What Frank says about “ensur[ing] there is a place of safekeeping... for these stories forged in hell” is both noble and vital. The scribes preserve precious realities that link us to what it means to be sentient creatures on planet earth. It's important for humans, now and in the future, to remember these stories.
March 29, 2019
Yes, I read it. Yes, I cried. Yes, I laughed - oh, for a screwtop bottle of Grange.
This book of poetry based on the Black Saturday fires ... ten years ago - it doesn't seem that long, does it? I didn't want to read this, I really didn't.
Why? I've been there, and Ash Wednesday still brings nightmares, even just a whiff of eucy smoke is enough to have me hyper-alert for too long.
Yes, I felt sick at the memory of flash-fried flesh. And at the cause, anger at the idiots who treat it as less than the devil freed of all constraints.
It might take me a few days to be able to go back to it, but I just had to say it was deeply felt, which is what Frank wanted, I suppose.
I was there for Ash Wednesday, but I couldn't go back - didn't recognise the street I lived on, no house, no chimney, one single lump of metal that was once a vehicle.
I was there for the Canberra fires, I saw fire race downhill in a whirling dervish of terror accompanied by the screams of trees ... and others.
I thought there would come a time when I wouldn't remember this at the faintest whiff of eucy smoke, but there it is. Life and the singe of red rain is still as damaging as a blunt knife with the force of an anvil and hammer behind it. It breaks us ...
Anyway, it was impressive.
This book of poetry based on the Black Saturday fires ... ten years ago - it doesn't seem that long, does it? I didn't want to read this, I really didn't.
Why? I've been there, and Ash Wednesday still brings nightmares, even just a whiff of eucy smoke is enough to have me hyper-alert for too long.
Yes, I felt sick at the memory of flash-fried flesh. And at the cause, anger at the idiots who treat it as less than the devil freed of all constraints.
It might take me a few days to be able to go back to it, but I just had to say it was deeply felt, which is what Frank wanted, I suppose.
I was there for Ash Wednesday, but I couldn't go back - didn't recognise the street I lived on, no house, no chimney, one single lump of metal that was once a vehicle.
I was there for the Canberra fires, I saw fire race downhill in a whirling dervish of terror accompanied by the screams of trees ... and others.
I thought there would come a time when I wouldn't remember this at the faintest whiff of eucy smoke, but there it is. Life and the singe of red rain is still as damaging as a blunt knife with the force of an anvil and hammer behind it. It breaks us ...
Anyway, it was impressive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2019
Like Frank’s previous book, Small Town Kid, this collection of poems tells a story of rural and small town Australia. But the similarities between the two books end there.
Whereas the previous collection was a celebration of boyhood in Frank’s hometown, this is an account of the dreadful bushfires of February 2009 that swept through parts of Southern Australia, the area that is home to the author, killing 173 people and leaving a huge area a fire-blackened moonscape.
The poems are a mixture of first-hand accounts, from those who ran desperately from the flames, saving what they could and suddenly terrified at the unbelievable size of the fire and the terrible speed the flames moved at, from firefighters who fought the flames like small companies of soldiers attempting to halt the progress of an overwhelmingly large army, until they literally dropped from exhaustion, from the fire-spotters, and from the frightened friends and relatives trying to raise loved ones down unresponsive phonelines.
In many ways, this is a very difficult book to read, although it is important to do so, especially for those of us fortunate enough to have never had to live through events as terrifying as those described in its poems. It is full of raw emotion and naked detail, traumatised victims and quiet heroes.
At times, I found it essential to look away and take a breather, much as the firefighters had to do, as the emotion became just too much for me.
Poetry is an immensely personal art form. Even when the subject is neither the poet nor the reader, intense emotions come through. Presented in this form, these accounts are shocking. I cannot tell whether they would have felt as shocking had they been prose, but the sparse brevity of the language confronts you almost aggressively, defying you to ignore what they say. Each one seems to scream ‘Listen to me! Don’t you dare turn away until I have finished!’
It is extremely rarely that I would suggest a book should be required reading, but I genuinely think Devil in the Wind should be and is unquestionably a five star read.
I received this book as an ARC with no obligation to leave a review.
Whereas the previous collection was a celebration of boyhood in Frank’s hometown, this is an account of the dreadful bushfires of February 2009 that swept through parts of Southern Australia, the area that is home to the author, killing 173 people and leaving a huge area a fire-blackened moonscape.
The poems are a mixture of first-hand accounts, from those who ran desperately from the flames, saving what they could and suddenly terrified at the unbelievable size of the fire and the terrible speed the flames moved at, from firefighters who fought the flames like small companies of soldiers attempting to halt the progress of an overwhelmingly large army, until they literally dropped from exhaustion, from the fire-spotters, and from the frightened friends and relatives trying to raise loved ones down unresponsive phonelines.
In many ways, this is a very difficult book to read, although it is important to do so, especially for those of us fortunate enough to have never had to live through events as terrifying as those described in its poems. It is full of raw emotion and naked detail, traumatised victims and quiet heroes.
At times, I found it essential to look away and take a breather, much as the firefighters had to do, as the emotion became just too much for me.
Poetry is an immensely personal art form. Even when the subject is neither the poet nor the reader, intense emotions come through. Presented in this form, these accounts are shocking. I cannot tell whether they would have felt as shocking had they been prose, but the sparse brevity of the language confronts you almost aggressively, defying you to ignore what they say. Each one seems to scream ‘Listen to me! Don’t you dare turn away until I have finished!’
It is extremely rarely that I would suggest a book should be required reading, but I genuinely think Devil in the Wind should be and is unquestionably a five star read.
I received this book as an ARC with no obligation to leave a review.
May 16, 2019
Having enjoyed Small Town Kid and Frank Prem's unique way of using verse to convey a story, I was eagerly anticipating this new collection.
The title is apt, as it is not just the frightening power of fire that strikes terror into the hearts of those in its path, but the knowledge that the direction of the flames and your fate is dependent on the fickle winds.
Frank Prem captures the growing concern of the communities in the area as they listen to the radio for the latest reports. So many factors to consider, including should they go or should they stay. Some leave it too late, caught in flight on the roads, families packed into a car trying to outrun the flames leaving everything they own to the mercy of the fire. Whole towns are engulfed in what seems to be minutes, and you can sense the growing terror as the author shares stories of families and individuals waiting desperately for information.
This is a true story, a devastating time of human loss and also of people's way of life and their work, with livestock and wildlife consumed along with property. There are survival stories and moments of hope, particularly when an old Kangaroo, a frequent visitor to town, turns up in the aftermath by a water tank and people rally around to find some food for him.
This is not an easy read as far as the subject matter is concerned, but the author writes so well, that you are carried along in the flow, engaging with the men, women and children attempting to survive and also those brave men and women on the front line desperately trying to save them.In the aftermath everyone wants answers... and justice for those who have perished... because nature was only the accomplice.
I was given an ARC copy of the book by the author without an expectation of a review
The title is apt, as it is not just the frightening power of fire that strikes terror into the hearts of those in its path, but the knowledge that the direction of the flames and your fate is dependent on the fickle winds.
Frank Prem captures the growing concern of the communities in the area as they listen to the radio for the latest reports. So many factors to consider, including should they go or should they stay. Some leave it too late, caught in flight on the roads, families packed into a car trying to outrun the flames leaving everything they own to the mercy of the fire. Whole towns are engulfed in what seems to be minutes, and you can sense the growing terror as the author shares stories of families and individuals waiting desperately for information.
This is a true story, a devastating time of human loss and also of people's way of life and their work, with livestock and wildlife consumed along with property. There are survival stories and moments of hope, particularly when an old Kangaroo, a frequent visitor to town, turns up in the aftermath by a water tank and people rally around to find some food for him.
This is not an easy read as far as the subject matter is concerned, but the author writes so well, that you are carried along in the flow, engaging with the men, women and children attempting to survive and also those brave men and women on the front line desperately trying to save them.In the aftermath everyone wants answers... and justice for those who have perished... because nature was only the accomplice.
I was given an ARC copy of the book by the author without an expectation of a review
June 26, 2019
I have to admit, I’m not a big fan of poetry, I think you can probably blame it on school, the poems we had to read and ‘appreciate’ were never the sort of thing that stirred me. I could never see the meanings that well-meaning teachers ascribed to the words. As for rhyme…
However, times change. I have read Frank Prem’s book, Devil in the Wind through older eyes, without a teacher breathing down my neck, explaining what it all ‘means’. Having family in Australia no doubt also helps; as the subject matter is one that I’m now slightly more familiar with (we don’t get that many devastating bush fires in Devon, which is a good job).
This is raw stuff, not the immaculately stilted lines of classical poetry, with its rhythm and rhyme, this is brutal and freestyle, I can imagine it spoken, with energy and feeling, it jolts and shocks you, conveying in a few short sentences the destruction of so much. The words go straight to the heart of the terrible events of 2009, that form the basis for these poems. They evoke images of the destruction, the sense of hopelessness in the face of nature and the indominable resilience of the human spirit. It all starts with the prologue, a powerful piece in its own right which sets the scene.
I can’t really single out one of the poems that follow as better than the rest, they all have their own energy. The titles carry as much emotion as the poems themselves. Through the gauntlet, The Strength of a Truckie, Portrait in Green and Gold. Even the strangely named Snorkel North.
They flow, one into another, making one vivid picture, a tragic event as seen from all sides.
As you can guess, I really liked it. Thanks to YouTube, I don’t even have to imagine what one would sound like, as Frank reads one for us (opens in new window).
The Strength of a Truckie
Five stars from me, thank you, Frank; for introducing me to your freestyle poetry.
However, times change. I have read Frank Prem’s book, Devil in the Wind through older eyes, without a teacher breathing down my neck, explaining what it all ‘means’. Having family in Australia no doubt also helps; as the subject matter is one that I’m now slightly more familiar with (we don’t get that many devastating bush fires in Devon, which is a good job).
This is raw stuff, not the immaculately stilted lines of classical poetry, with its rhythm and rhyme, this is brutal and freestyle, I can imagine it spoken, with energy and feeling, it jolts and shocks you, conveying in a few short sentences the destruction of so much. The words go straight to the heart of the terrible events of 2009, that form the basis for these poems. They evoke images of the destruction, the sense of hopelessness in the face of nature and the indominable resilience of the human spirit. It all starts with the prologue, a powerful piece in its own right which sets the scene.
I can’t really single out one of the poems that follow as better than the rest, they all have their own energy. The titles carry as much emotion as the poems themselves. Through the gauntlet, The Strength of a Truckie, Portrait in Green and Gold. Even the strangely named Snorkel North.
They flow, one into another, making one vivid picture, a tragic event as seen from all sides.
As you can guess, I really liked it. Thanks to YouTube, I don’t even have to imagine what one would sound like, as Frank reads one for us (opens in new window).
The Strength of a Truckie
Five stars from me, thank you, Frank; for introducing me to your freestyle poetry.
December 2, 2019
Having enjoyed Small Town Kid and Frank Prem’s unique way of using verse to convey a story, I was eagerly anticipating this new collection.
The title is apt, as it is not just the frightening power of fire that strikes terror into the hearts of those in its path, but the knowledge that the direction of the flames and your fate is dependent on the fickle winds.
Frank Prem captures the growing concern of the communities in the area as they listen to the radio for the latest reports. So many factors to consider, including should they go or should they stay. Some leave it too late, caught in flight on the roads, families packed into a car trying to outrun the flames leaving everything they own to the mercy of the fire. Whole towns are engulfed in what seems to be minutes, and you can sense the growing terror as the author shares stories of families and individuals waiting desperately for information.
This is a true story, a devastating time of human loss and also of people’s way of life and their work, with livestock and wildlife consumed along with property. There are survival stories and moments of hope, particularly when an old Kangaroo, a frequent visitor to town, turns up in the aftermath by a water tank and people rally around to find some food for him.
This is not an easy read as far as the subject matter is concerned, but the author writes so well, that you are carried along in the flow, engaging with the men, women and children attempting to survive and also those brave men and women on the front line desperately trying to save them.
In the aftermath everyone wants answers… and justice for those who have perished… because nature was only the accomplice.
The title is apt, as it is not just the frightening power of fire that strikes terror into the hearts of those in its path, but the knowledge that the direction of the flames and your fate is dependent on the fickle winds.
Frank Prem captures the growing concern of the communities in the area as they listen to the radio for the latest reports. So many factors to consider, including should they go or should they stay. Some leave it too late, caught in flight on the roads, families packed into a car trying to outrun the flames leaving everything they own to the mercy of the fire. Whole towns are engulfed in what seems to be minutes, and you can sense the growing terror as the author shares stories of families and individuals waiting desperately for information.
This is a true story, a devastating time of human loss and also of people’s way of life and their work, with livestock and wildlife consumed along with property. There are survival stories and moments of hope, particularly when an old Kangaroo, a frequent visitor to town, turns up in the aftermath by a water tank and people rally around to find some food for him.
This is not an easy read as far as the subject matter is concerned, but the author writes so well, that you are carried along in the flow, engaging with the men, women and children attempting to survive and also those brave men and women on the front line desperately trying to save them.
In the aftermath everyone wants answers… and justice for those who have perished… because nature was only the accomplice.
June 17, 2019
I discovered my love of poetry as a teenager and this love continues to this day.
Devil in The Wind is very different from any poetry book that I have ever read before. I’ve never encountered stream of consciousness poems before, or poetry that chronicles such a devastating experience in such a thoughtful, honest, human and visual way.
Poetry delivers raw emotions in a way that prose sometimes struggles to do.
My favourite poems are:
Evidence to the Commission of Enquiry
Like A Duck on The Lake
Portraits in Green And Gold
The look of salvation
First bus to Marysville
The strength of a Trukie
Ever again
Don decides
Thank you to the author for a copy – this in no way affects my review.
My recommendation: 5 stars. Definitely read this, it is a fantastic collection.
Devil in The Wind is very different from any poetry book that I have ever read before. I’ve never encountered stream of consciousness poems before, or poetry that chronicles such a devastating experience in such a thoughtful, honest, human and visual way.
Poetry delivers raw emotions in a way that prose sometimes struggles to do.
My favourite poems are:
Evidence to the Commission of Enquiry
Like A Duck on The Lake
Portraits in Green And Gold
The look of salvation
First bus to Marysville
The strength of a Trukie
Ever again
Don decides
Thank you to the author for a copy – this in no way affects my review.
My recommendation: 5 stars. Definitely read this, it is a fantastic collection.
January 12, 2020
Devil in the Wind by Frank Prem (2019)
Frank Prem has a gift for narrative poetry that’s simple, direct and easily understood – not obscure like some poetry. In Devil in the Wind, he draws on the testimonies people impacted by the 2009 catastrophic Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Australia. Their voices come alive in narrative verse expressing many shades of despair and distress – and sometimes hope. He captures movingly the varied emotions, gestures and responses of survivors, volunteers and players during and after the bushfires which claimed over a hundred lives, leaving many others maimed physically and emotionally. Pain, suffering and loss are universal and perennial. At times, we may feel overwhelmed by the telling (and retelling) of too many disaster stories. People may grow weary and cynical, become somewhat numb and indifferent. However, Frank’s retelling of the 2009 calamity is unique and original. His narrative verse is consistently refreshing, evocative and, above all, paints authentic images of the event.
Frank Prem has a gift for narrative poetry that’s simple, direct and easily understood – not obscure like some poetry. In Devil in the Wind, he draws on the testimonies people impacted by the 2009 catastrophic Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Australia. Their voices come alive in narrative verse expressing many shades of despair and distress – and sometimes hope. He captures movingly the varied emotions, gestures and responses of survivors, volunteers and players during and after the bushfires which claimed over a hundred lives, leaving many others maimed physically and emotionally. Pain, suffering and loss are universal and perennial. At times, we may feel overwhelmed by the telling (and retelling) of too many disaster stories. People may grow weary and cynical, become somewhat numb and indifferent. However, Frank’s retelling of the 2009 calamity is unique and original. His narrative verse is consistently refreshing, evocative and, above all, paints authentic images of the event.
January 19, 2020
When I started reading Devil In The Wind I couldn't have imagined that the latest fires in Australia were going to build up to the most terrible conflagration ever known. Frank Prem's book in his unique style of poetry is about the 2009 Black Saturday in Victoria. His opening dedication says 'For all those affected by wildfire. May our love for the bush remain, while our hearts grow ever more resilient.' Words needed more than ever. As soon as I started reading, the voices were real; what people saw, trying to explain how it happened. His brief lines, often just one word, no punctuation or capital letters, tell the story perfectly '…anyway … out of the smoke came a sort of convoy...' 'she could see the glow from over murmungee way...' This is the second book I have read by the author and I am looking forward to reading his third volume. Looking again at the words of Devil In The Wind I find myself reading it again.
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