Mind the thorns
November 09th, 2022
“This late in our lives, we know enough to be grateful,” writes Evelyn Lau in Cactus Gardens (Anvil $18), her ninth book of poetry. Divided into four sections, part one is a reflection of middle-aged life and enjoying the fruits of one’s work. There are lunches with friends on penthouse terraces with “potted palms, purple mountain range / pleasure boats in the distant harbour.” There’s also a half life of pain to contend with including an estranged father, friends dying, a pandemic and social distancing, and in the fourth and final part, the story of Lau’s relationship when she was 24 with a much older, famous writer. The writer leaves her to return to his wife and Lau ends with this reflection on herself and the affair: “Twenty years after the desert winter / you are middle-aged, and he is dead.” 9781772141948
Leave a Reply