How often do you get the opportunity to walk up to the author of some of your favourite words and say “thankyou”? I did tonight.
Les Murray probably won’t be around for all that many more years and his voice is as much a treasure as his words. I’m so glad I got to hear him talk about his work, and read portions of Freddy Neptune. Now I have his voice alongside my own when I read his poetry. I told him about reading his poems with my family around campfires at Christmas time when I was growing up. I got to say thanks.
I also got to hear Stephen Edgar, who I hadn’t previously come across: beautiful. Tomorrow I’m going to track down a copy of History of The Day, his latest collection, and post a copy of Memorial.