Poems & Poets
Poetry Prize Long List
We were stoked to have an awesome response – the judges could only pick 55 poems for the Long List – here they are…..
Proposals for publication 2023
In 2023 we will be publishing 2-3 poetry monographs. We expect to do some editorial work with you on accepted manuscripts, but we are looking for proposals for full manuscripts that are already well down the path toward publication readiness. Does this sound like you? The call will be open from 1st to the 31st October.
‘After Cage’ is launched
At Zoom Poetry on July 7, we had a rich and exciting launch for the 2nd edition of Dominique Hecq’s experimental poem, ‘After Cage’. Marion May Campbell did the formal honours, Dominique read to us powerfully from sections of the poem, and together in discussion, they opened up the nuances of this important work – a ‘masterclass in poetry’.
July Open Mic to enjoy again
Another great Open mic session…..
‘Had a wonderful time tonight. So much to munch on I forgot I hadn’t had dinner’ 😊
‘Wonderful safe place for poets established and emerging – love it’
If you missed it, or would like to watch and listen again…
Undercoat: Poems about Paintings
‘In this vivid collection Mark O’Flynn takes the painter’s spatial plane of colours and lines and adds the dimensions of time – story, character, the narrator’s voice – using the poet’s rhythmic mastery of sound’. Alice Major
And at our July Zoom Poetry, Mark was our poet in the spotlight.
What is seen / and what is not
In her recent ‘Westerly’ review of ‘This Shuttered Eye’ by Rose Lucas, Lucy Dougan reminds us that ‘How a poet sees and frames things is a central clue to readers for what is being told to them about being in the world, about being alive’. And her advice about this collection: ‘read cover to cover’.
Anne Elvey | ‘This Shuttered Eye’
‘When I think of Rose’s poetry, I think of intersections between poetry, breath, voice and the poetics of space/spacing’ …[it] is a journey across centuries and landscapes, where attention to the present opens out to care beyond the self’.
Anne Elvey
Anne’s launch speech has now been published in The Rochford Street Review.
Rose van Son in the spotlight
‘Poet in the Spotlight’ is a new feature from Liquid Amber in which one of the wonderful poets in our community tells us something about themselves, shares favourite poems, reflects on the business of writing and completes the pleasure by reading for us. Thanks heaps to Rose van Son, newly appointed Patron of the next Perth Poetry Festival for being our first poet to take the spotlight.
2022 Poetry Prize – ‘Encounter’
What moments startle us out of our understanding of ourselves and the world? The theme for our inaugural poetry prize has the provocation of ‘Encounter’. Established and emerging poets can win prizes (first prize is $500) and have their poems published in a high quality anthology. Be inspired.
Congrats Simone – Open Mic Star
One of our wonderful open mic poets in March was Simone King – and wow – a week later her poem ‘Surfing Again’ won the prestigious Blake Prize! Congratulations Simone – how wonderful is that. You can listen to Simone reading and all the other poets too.
Hear Peter Minter & Mark O’Flynn
Peter Minter’s launch of Mark O’Flynn’s latest poetry collection ‘Undercoat: Poems about Paintings’ plus Mark reading his poems and showing the images that inspired them – what’s not to love? If you missed them ‘real time’ at our last Zoom Poetry evening, or would like to read Peter’s launch speech, or watch again…
Undercoat | Virtual Gallery
Read the poems, find the art. An extra pleasure in reading Undercoat is finding the visual images that inspired Mark O’Flynn’s beautifully crafted, insightful and often playful poems. The companion virtual gallery gives links to all the publicly available art. Bookmark it!
Lockdown Poetry has landed
This new chapbook is a terrific milestone for us. It’s the first anthology published by Liquid Amber Press, with experiences and responses to the Covid-19 pandemic from 21 poets – established and emerging – from across the world. We read of ‘…moments of unexpected beauty and consolation amidst the desolation’ (Tricia Dearborn).
The launch is now on YouTube. And the book available in our shop – great Xmas present.
The joy of open mic
The opportunity to listen and to read is the heartbeat of poetry – in open mic sessions poets get to try out their latest work with an audience, and listeners hear new and emerging art – and Zoom has thrown the gallery wide open, geographically speaking. At our most recent Liquid Amber Press Zoom Poetry Reading we had readers and audience from across Australia and internationally. Listen to a dozen open mic readers sharing their poems.
Listen to Tricia Dearborn
Tricia Dearborn is a wonderful writer with ‘trademark finely balanced, masterfully honed poems’. Her third collection ‘Autobiochemistry’ is powerful, engaging in its directness and emotional honesty, further establishing Dearborn’s position as an important voice in Australian poetry.
We were super excited that Tricia was the feature poet at our November Zoom Reading. Now on our YouTube channel.
Sarah Rice reads + open mic
At our second Zoom Poetry Reading the fabulous Sarah Rice entranced us – the intersection of poetry and the visual embodied. The mood in the gallery: “blown away by Sarah Rice’s artistic and poetic convergence, her sheer energy and enthusiasm as well”. And there were a dozen open mic readers with powerful poems. All now available on YouTube.
Lockdown Poetry Zoom Reading
Lockdown Poetry: The Covid Long Haul – our first Zoom Poetry Reading.
20 wonderful poets and participants from Australia and across the globe – UK, USA to the Philippines – shared thoughtful, confronting and beautiful reflections on varying experiences of this Covid-era.
Keep an eye out for the Chapbook which will be published November 2021.
Exhibition and reading of 2020 Shelter in Place
Bringing together the stunning work of visual artist Sharon Monagle and the poetry of Rose Lucas, this project involved an exhibition of paintings and poems all of which tracked the multiple experiences of 2020. From fires, the pandemic anxiety and lockdown, to new ways of thinking about how we live our lives. A book of 36 images of paintings and 29 poems was produced as a catalogue for the exhibition and is available here.
Launch of Liquid Amber Press
We’re off and running (well publishing) – Anne M Carson launches Liquid Amber Press in April 2021 at the exhibition for our publication 2020 Shelter in Place. Thanks so much Anne – everyone catches your verve.