Riverside

<p><em>Riverside</em> comprises Ray Liversidge's work over the last 21 years. It includes selections from three books of poetry a collection of poems and flash fiction a verse novel a chapbook <em>Issue One of Triptych Poets</em> plus 28 new poems and flash fictions. From his first collection <em>Obeying the Call</em> Liversidge's writing was recognised as of a high order reminding us of poetry's origins in ceremony and its ability to name and locate experience (<em>Island Magazine</em> 2003). Since then Liversidge has experimented with various genres in a verse novel described by Jordie Albiston as a true postmodern epic. Using a version of the Spenserian stanza he celebrates the lives of 29 poets. In a bilingual book he lamented the massacre of 642 people in France by the Nazis in WW2. His marriage breakdown is eloquently chronicled in a suite of poems. Of late he has embraced flash fiction after finding a volume by Alex Epstein at a book sale. <em>Riverside</em> offers the reader the opportunity to connect with or rediscover previous work and encounter new writing in this formidable addition to the Australian literary canon. </p><p></p><p><em>Writers are often asked why they write and poets often asked why poetry. I took on board Seamus Heaney's observation that he doesn't write because he must but because he can and I</em></p><p><em>consider myself fortunate that I can write and that publishers continue to value and support my work.</em></p><p></p><p><em>As well as being asked why we write poets are also often asked what poetry is and/or what does it do. Personally I avoid this navel gazing but I do like these few quotes:</em></p><p></p><p><em>Poetry is a momentary stay against confusion</em></p><p><em>- Robert Frost</em></p><p><em>Art is not an email. It's not supposed to send a message</em></p><p><em>- David Cronenberg</em></p><p><em>A poem should not mean/But be</em></p><p><em>- Archibald MacLeish</em></p><p></p><p><em>Poems and flash fiction in this collection - other than new works - have appeared in my published books and Issue One of Triptych Poets (2010). Those published books comprise a collection of poems and flash fiction three books of poetry a verse novel and a chapbook.</em></p><p></p><p><em>The book uses time shifts to bring knowledge and understanding of current culture to the chronicle of events.</em></p><p></p>