Two Or More Islands

Two Or More IslandsDiscover the profound beauty and depth of Diana Bridge's poetry collection that seamlessly connects myth and modernity. This brand new paperback edition features 80 captivating pages of well crafted poems that explore cultural intersections among Western, New Zealand, and Asian literary traditions. Released on June 1, 2019, by Otago University Press, this collection is a rich tapestry of voices and perspectives. Bridge's poetry is notable for its

Discover the profound beauty and depth of Diana Bridge's poetry collection that seamlessly connects myth and modernity. This brand new paperback edition features 80 captivating pages of well-crafted poems that explore cultural intersections among Western, New Zealand, and Asian literary traditions. Released on June 1, 2019, by Otago University Press, this collection is a rich tapestry of voices and perspectives. Bridge's poetry is notable for its intricate weaving of realities, showcasing her deep understanding of the legacy of stories that resonate through time. She delves into familiar mythological themes, turning the focus on the heroines of Western Classical legend with fresh irony and insightful brevity. Each poem invites readers to reflect on timeless concepts such as family and history, taking you from the Great Asian cultures of China and India back to significant moments in Shakespearean and English traditions. The climax of the collection reveals 'The Way a Stone Falls,' a poignant series of 22 poems touching on the Cambodian tragedy, colonial repercussions, and the moral dilemmas expressed in the Bhagavad Gita. This is not just a book of poetry; it's an exploration of how myths give shape to our emotions and narratives, as vital today as they ever were. Enjoy seamless, local shipping from our Auckland-based store. We are thrilled to offer combined shipping on your purchase. Shop confidently, knowing this product is in stock in New Zealand—no unexpected import charges, customs duty, or taxes to worry about. Immerse yourself in the world of Diana Bridge and let her words transport you to the heart of ancient and contemporary discourses alike.

CONDITION: Brand New

Pages: 80
Bind: paperback
Author: Diana Bridge Publisher: Otago University Press
Publication Date: 01-06-2019

Diana Bridge’s subjects are reflected through a range of cultural lenses. To engagement with Western and New Zealand literature should be added her immersion in the great Asian cultures of China and India. Her poetry is an intricate meshing of realities and possesses a remarkable depth and richness of perspective. These are poised, elegantly wrought poems, full of lively intelligence and verbal deftness. Since Baxter, most New Zealand poets have shied away from the use of myth in their poetry. In this collection, Bridge mines this vein for its deeply traditional and personal resonances. She knows, as firmly as did Jung, that ‘myths give us pictures for our emotions’. Here, the poems that openly glance off myth are brief, fresh takes that centre on the heroines of Western Classical legend. They begin in an irony that is needed to cope with the sometimes shocking stories, then range through time to alight with radical brevity on Shakespeare and English history. The refrain of the past narrows down to the notion of the family, No one of us today is of the House of Atreus – Just meet the Family, I say. The book concludes with ‘The Way a Stone Falls’, 22 poems set in Southeast Asia. The sequence takes on board the Cambodian tragedy of last century by way of headless statues – taking a sideswipe at French colonialism. It confronts the hardest decision in the whole Hindu tradition, that of Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita. This is how Bridge finds her way in the world – a place of trees and people and noise and contingency – with the assurance that myth tells her story as well as its own.

We are happy to combine shipping. Smartfox is a NZ owned business located in Auckland. This product is in stock in NZ which means no unexpected import charges, custom duty or tax.