Cactus

by Phillip Hall

Throughout his forties and fifties Phillip found himself on a sticky wicket: the grief for his baby son and younger brothers, suicide attempts, self-harming, the premature termination of his career, and the failure of religious belief to explain or console. In and out of psychiatric care, he has been treated for PTSD, severe depression and social anxiety. There are consolations: family, companion greyhounds, Sunshine, the Western Bulldogs and Australian Football, books, the fine and performing arts but, for Phillip, this remains a time of loss and despair. This is, therefore, a collection of lamentations, achingly focused on what it is to live with poor mental health, but it is also a defiant celebration of survival and the redeeming power of familial love, sport and the arts.

122 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2021

Reviews

[Meg Perdue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was not an easy read.
However, it was Hartfelt and touching.
I found myself feeling his own pain and that was not easy.
He is a very talented writer.

[Declan K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cactus is a beautiful collection of honest and sometimes startlingly candid poetry.