Love Song of a Wading Bird launched

Petone poet Robin Fry launched her sixth poetry collection Love Song of a Wading Bird two days before National Poetry Day in, appropriately enough, Petone. The event included readings from two other Petone poets: Nola Borrell and Lionel Sharman, and was packed with Wellington writers including Jo Thorpe, Kerry Popplewell, Tim Jones and Lewis Scott. 

As Robin's delightful new book – published by Mākaro Press – points out on the cover: 

'It's serendipitous that the word 'poet' is tucked inside Petone – the Wellington harbourside suburb where Robin Fry lives – as she's tied closely to both. 

There are oystercatchers and jellyfish at the end of her street, long-buried bones at her back door, and river stones nestling in her garden. And walking the stretch of beach from the Hutt River to Petone wharf, Robin sings a love song to the wild and wonderful place she lives, the family she loves and the music that fills her head. 

It's here that Robin's poems begin and end... and there's the whole world in between.' 

The venue was the new gallery, Artscape, on the Petone esplanade, facing the sea, and the evening's festivities included a musical interlude performed by Robin's grandson Sam, his friend Alannah, and Robin's daughter, Susan. 

Publisher Mary McCallum, who also edited Love Song, says she and Robin and designer Paul Stewart made a great team and had a lot of fun putting the book together. 'I love Robin's poems for their joyousness and sense of place. It was a wonderful day when a poem she'd written about oystercatchers on Petone beach opened up to include a delicious line which is as much about the poet as the bird itself – a line that became the book's title. Magic. 

Love Song of the Wading Bird is available at all good bookstores – if they don't have it, ask – and at makaropress.co.nz. 

Another volume in the series of Submarine poetry is Headwinds by Lindsay Pope, launched in June. 

Photo credit: Mākaro Press. The photos are of Robin signing her book at last night's event, and watched by grandson Sam.