Prickly Moses: Poems

Simon West's poetry explores the power of naming and speaking, celebrating language as it encounters the nameless variety of the natural world. His intensely regional focus stands in dialogue with Europe and antiquity, revealing the historical dimensions of landscapes.

Format: Hardback
Length: 72 pages
Publication date: 10 October 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Compelling poems that celebrate language as it encounters the nameless variety of the natural world, from Australia to Italy.

An uncanny blend of the external and the intimate has been a hallmark of Simon West's poetry for nearly twenty years. In this new collection, the Australian poet and Italianist delights in the transforming and endlessly varied powers of naming and speaking. West's intensely regional focus stands in dialogue with Europe and antiquity. Landscapes reveal the tangle of their historical dimensions, as the rivers of both the Goulburn Valley in southeastern Australia and the Po Valley in northern Italy merge and flow into the wider currents of the Southern Ocean. Again and again, language and the senses throw themselves into the nameless riot of the world, from eucalypts and clouds to a medieval bell tower and the sounds a pencil makes as it crosses a page.

Simon West's Poetry Celebrates Language as It Encounters the Nameless Variety of the Natural World

Simon West's poetry has been characterized by an uncanny blend of the external and the intimate for nearly two decades. In his latest collection, the Australian poet and Italianist explores the profound and multifaceted effects of naming and speaking. With a strong regional focus, West's poetry engages in a dialogue with Europe and antiquity, revealing the intricate connections between landscapes and their historical dimensions.

The Goulburn Valley in southeastern Australia and the Po Valley in northern Italy serve as examples of this interplay. As the rivers of these regions merge and flow into the Southern Ocean, they intertwine with the broader currents of history, creating a tapestry of cultural and historical significance. West's poetry vividly captures this fusion of the external and the intimate, from the eucalyptus trees and clouds that populate the Australian landscape to the medieval bell tower and the sounds of a pencil as it traverses a page.

Through his poetry, West invites us to contemplate the power of language and the senses in capturing the essence of the natural world. He explores the ways in which language can transform and shape our perception of the world, from the mundane to the extraordinary. By juxtaposing the external world with the internal experiences of the speaker, West creates a rich and layered tapestry of poetic language that invites us to engage with the world on a deeper level.

In this new collection, West delves into the diverse and rich tapestry of language, exploring its capacity to convey meaning, evoke emotions, and connect people across time and space. He employs a range of poetic techniques, from the precise and descriptive to the abstract and metaphorical, to create a series of compelling poems that celebrate the beauty and complexity of language.

One of the key themes in West's poetry is the relationship between language and the natural world. He explores the ways in which language can be used to describe and evoke the beauty of nature, as well as the ways in which it can be used to critique and challenge our understanding of the world. Through his poetry, West encourages us to appreciate the interconnectedness of all things and to recognize the importance of language in shaping our perception of the natural world.

Another theme in West's poetry is the power of naming and speaking. He examines the ways in which language can be used to create identity, express cultural heritage, and establish connections between people. West's poetry explores the complexities of identity and the ways in which language can both shape and be shaped by our experiences and cultural backgrounds.

In addition to his regional focus and exploration of language and the natural world, West's poetry also engages with themes of history, culture, and identity. He draws on his experiences as an Australian poet and Italianist to create a series of poems that reflect the rich and diverse tapestry of human experience.

Overall, Simon West's poetry is a testament to the power of language and the senses in capturing the essence of the natural world. Through his compelling and evocative poems, he invites us to explore the complexities of language, the natural world, and our place in the world. His poetry is a celebration of the beauty and diversity of human experience and a reminder of the importance of language in shaping our understanding of the world.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691250922