Almanac Poetry: ‘Isle Full of Noises’ – a review

 

Isle Full of Noises – Kevin Densley
Ginninderra Press

 

For a number of years now, Monday morning is an eagerly awaited time of day on the Footy Almanac website. At that moment a poem by Kevin Densley is published for the enjoyment of his many readers. The poem may possibly be from one of Kevin’s six collections of published poetry, or from a magazine he has contributed to, even some recovered from a distant past reflecting youthful exurberance and yearnings, and of course there is always something completely new to try out on his audience. 

 

Densley is refered to as a ‘witty and wry’ observer of the life he finds himself immersed in. Whether reflecting on masterpieces of art both historical and contemporary observed either in a gallery or book, or commenting on the history of the now and then, his comments are incisive and to the point. Sometimes a new and different perspective is added, and naturally, the life observed and contemplated around him in his everyday life experiences are incorporated into his poetry. Some poems are short and witty, precise in their observations and points of view, while others are longer detailed tellings of thoughts and events.

 

In his latest collection, Isle Full of Noises, Densley recalls some lines from Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Two lines caught my attention:

 

‘Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,

Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not.’

 

These words indeed summarises beautifully the intent of the poetry presented by Densley in his collection, poems ‘that give delight , and hurt not’ as they  provide meaningful reading experiences to enhance one’s enjoyment and understanding of all life’s usualness and foibles.

 

As in previous publications, Densley returns his pen to familar themes readers will be accustomed to, both with wicked and biting wit, as well as  a smoothness with elan and panache. We laugh along, shed a tear or two, smile in acknowledgement, and thoroughly enjoy this latest collection of poetry.

 

These are poems of great joy and sometimes sorrow,  they are musings about life and all its worries and anxieties; and they are of a cerebral nature, about the arts – writing, painting and music, their influences on the author and his responses to those experiences. War, childhood reflections, and Ned Kelly are all there as well, as they have been in previous publications.

 

The life of a poet striving to survive and succeed permeates throughout the collection and comes to the fore, knowingly in the ‘Writer’s Lament’:

 

‘I don’t want to be shortlisted.

Let me drop without a trace.

rather than hang on

by my fingernails’.

 

Is it the fear of failure reflected here, or perhaps it’s just let me get on with my job, that’s the success I want, not short listings?

 

More writing anxiety is expressed in ‘The Poet Who Got The Grant Instead Of You’ reflecting the competiitive nature of the need of surviving in the literary world, and perhaps the envious:

 

‘Ah, we laughed

… well, I did,

you didn’t,

your expression was deadly serious …

when that poet whose work you hated

got the grant instead of you’.

 

And the judgemental nature of poets is highlighted in ‘Rampantantly Bad Poet’s Society’:

 

‘… a senior lecturer in English,

used the word ‘deconstruction’

fifteen times in a thirty line poem

 

– he should have known

the word

is taboo

when it comes 

to writing

poetry’.

 

Lonliness is also a theme often found in Densley’s poetry:

 

‘You’re teaching at the regional campus

of a small university;

single, new to all your colleagues.

They’re friendly enough, but never

invite you ‘round to tea’.

(‘Essay in Lonliness’)

 

I particularly enjoyed Densley’s art related poetry, and it’s obvious the works of the great masters, and artists in general have a profound affect on Densley.

 

‘A Pilgrimage to San Isidro – after a painting by Goya’ is a reflection of the artist’s influence on Densley’s work.

 

‘Parched faces –

in a scorched landscape – 

Everything seems burnt-

The corners of the canvas curl,

blacken and send up plumes of smoke.’

 

War is another common theme in Densley’s work. He does not glorify war but records the everyday events as they happened with simplicity and precision to convey the story he is telling through his words. A hero in deeds but the nature of the man succinctly expressed.

 

‘… leaning against the parados,
having held this part of the trench – by himself –
for more than a quarter hour,
face flushed, unlit cigarette
dangling from his lips:
“I managed to get the beggars, sir”’

(‘Albert Jacka, Australia’s First VC of The Great War’)

 

Ned Kelly is also a favourite theme throughout Densley’s poetry. Whether recalling historical facts such as the time the Kelly gang had their photographs taken:

 

‘…At some point in their lives
each of its members
had his photo taken at Bray’s:
Ned in his boxing attire, fists raised,
fresh from conquering Wild Wright: …’

(‘Ned Kelly Photograph’ circa 1875)

 

And then Ned Kelly comes to Densley in a dream:

 

‘Last night I dreamt
I shot Ned Kelly
in the back.

He’d surrendered
was compliant.
I didn’t think he’d run.’

(‘Life is Such’)

 

Good old fashioned larrikins, full of the vernacular of long ago Aussie humour appeals to Densley throughout his collections. In this latest collection, Chad Morgan, the Sheik of Scrubby Creek brought a smile to my face.

 

‘Strewth,
a bloke needs eyes
in the back of his fucken head,
when takin a leak
at a joint like this.’

 

To humour readers further Densley provides a title longer than the actual verse itself!

 

(‘Chad Morgan, the Sheik of Scrubby Creek, Rueful
and Reflective after Getting Clobbered from
Behind by a Piece of Two-Be-Four while Having a
Piss in the Back Paddock of an Outback Pub During
an Interval in his Country-and-Western Show’)

 

With his latest collection of poetry, Kevin Densley once again demonstrates he is a poet to contend with, a poet in the prime of his career, and one who should be read by all with an interest in contemporary Australian poetry. 

 

Kevin Densley’s poetry collection is a winner!

 

 

Kevin Densley’s latest poetry collection,  Isle Full of Noises is available  HERE

 

 

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Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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