Almanac Poetry: ‘Please Feed the Macaws … I’m Feeling Too Indolent’ – Book Review

 

 

Please Feed the Macaws … I’m Feeling Too Indolent is the latest collection of poetry from well known and respected poet Kevin Densley and his fifth for Ginninderra Press. 

 

Readers familiar with the poetry of Kevin Densley will immediately recognise his wry wit and perceptive thought provoking verses creatively stimulated by his interactions with the world around him. 

 

Much of the poetry in the collection features Densley relishing in, and playing with his sardonic observations of themes he is attracted to, and highlight what he intimates to be the flaws of the cultural, political, and mythical institutions as he envisages them to be, all taken from his  position of experience, interest, and opinion.

 

Whether he is reflecting upon the past, or the present, these themes continue as constants in his work – bushrangers and the Kelly Gang, musing on paintings by old masters, early relationships, or remembering a classmate struggling to play a musical instrument, and the literary works of tortured writers all feature in the collection. All these depicted scenarios provide an insight to the world as seen by Densley.

 

Many of the 64 poems are short, sharp and brilliant pieces rocketing directly to the point Densley precisely makes, sometimes with his tongue firmly in his cheek.

 

As James Roderick Burns states in his wonderful blurb, the book is as ‘lively as a string of firecrackers’. Indeed, these poems are like firecrackers as they explode from the page, explosions spreading their tentacles out to the reader ’going off’ in a variety of themes and topics as they reach the reader for consumption. 

 

‘Remembrance of Cigarettes Past’ allows Densley to use his caustic wit to comment  on:

 

 ‘… that glorious golden age

when smokers felt their cigarettes

doing real and instant damage.’

 

Or his thoughts on President George Bush Senior’s presidency while campaigning.  The president was ‘mooned’ by a family and their action is reflected in his poem, ‘In the Heartland’ expressing that family’s contempt is humorously presented by Densley.

 

‘Yes, five bare arses

of various sizes

gave him an opinion

of his performance over the past four years.’

 

While others have a poignancy about them, particularly of self reflection acknowledging what might have been such as ‘The Best Times’: 

 

‘The best times are so good

you regret they’re slipping through your fingers

while you’re having them.’

 

Through the memories of Densley’s own past, or a past he envisages portrayed in an old picture, a story, or history itself provides much impetus for the self reflection conveyed in the poetry of this collection.

 

This is a superb collection of poetry and one I feel very privileged to have read and thoroughly enjoyed very much. If you are familiar with the poetry of Kevin Densley you will know what to expect, but if not, this is your opportunity to dip into his wonderful world of words and find out for yourself. You will not be disappointed.

 

Please Feed the Macaws … I’m Feeling Too Indolent  can be purchased directly from the publisher Here.

 

 

 

More from Col Ritchie can be read Here

 

More poetry from Almanac Poetry can be read HERE

 

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