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: Paperback / softback
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.

Throughout the collection, West delves into the transformative power of language and the senses as they encounter the nameless variety of the natural world. From the eucalypts and clouds that populate the Australian landscape to the medieval bell tower that looms over the Italian Po Valley, language and the senses immerse themselves in the chaotic and mysterious world around them.

West's poetry is characterized by a keen attention to detail and a sensory richness that brings the natural world to life. He skillfully weaves together imagery, metaphor, and sensory description to create vivid and evocative poems that transport the reader into the heart of the natural world.

One of the key themes in West's poetry is the relationship between language and the senses. He explores how language can shape our perception of the world, how it can evoke emotions and create meaning, and how it can connect us to the natural world in profound ways. Through his poetry, West invites us to re-examine our relationship with language and to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the natural world that surrounds us.

Another notable aspect of West's poetry is his regional focus. He is deeply rooted in the landscapes of southeastern Australia and northern Italy, and his poetry reflects the unique cultural and historical dimensions of these regions. The Goulburn Valley in southeastern Australia, for example, is characterized by its lush green forests, flowing rivers, and vibrant wildlife, while the Po Valley in northern Italy is known for its rich agricultural heritage and stunning medieval architecture.

Through his poetry, West invites us to explore the connections between these landscapes and their historical dimensions. He shows how the rivers of both the Goulburn Valley and the Po Valley merge and flow into the wider currents of the Southern Ocean, creating a seamless blend of the external and the intimate. He also highlights the historical significance of these regions, from the ancient civilizations that once thrived in the Goulburn Valley to the agricultural practices that have shaped the Po Valley for centuries.

In conclusion, Simon West's poetry is a celebration of language as it encounters the nameless variety of the natural world. Through his keen attention to detail, sensory richness, and regional focus, West invites us to re-examine our relationship with language and to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the natural world that surrounds us. His poetry is a testament to the power of poetry to connect us to the world around us and to inspire us to explore the depths of our own humanity and our place in the world.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691250595