The launch

of Conversation by Owl-Light.

Tonight belonged to my darling S. The official launch of her first collection of poems, under the above title. It was a very successful evening with her publisher, and her two principal mentors/guides, all saying the most wonderful things about her. As a person and as a poet. The first I can certainly vouch for. The second, I know that her poetry more than just touches me; it deeply affects me, more often than not. Others have the knowledge and skill to judge its of poetic worth.

We sold almost every copy we had available, to the intense surprise of her publisher. Okay; two were bought me at the request of two besotted grandsons, who each wanted their own copy. And both got the author to sign her work.

She had asked a printer in Hamilton to take the words of the title poem, and create a poster; he produced the print behind her in this photograph. The poem reads:

Conversation by owl-light

Speak to me by owl-light
when our eyes don't meet
and all that was unspoken by day
rises unbidden in the throat

I watch the more pork on her branch
beyond her
the crescent moon points to the east
the tide is on the turn
above the murmur of the waves
come words

Your voice chokes low and harsh
as if you cough pellets of the indigestible
rat-skull, mouse-tail, lizard-claw remnants
of a once warm and living thing

Speak to me by owl-light
when our eyes don't meet
and all that was unspoken by day
rises unbidden in the throat

Phil Guthrie has interpreted the poem by way of different fonts, and different sizes of letters, going a visual presentation of a rendering of tis fabulous poem.

I am so pleased for her and feel proud to be "her man".