Poetry | Katherine E. Seppings

November 27, 2015

‘When Embers Dance’ – Poetry Collection Launch

‘Poetry that compels – that challenges, and demands to be read.’ Peter Hay

Katherine E Seppings’ first poetry collection, When Embers Dance, has been called
‘a fearless first collection.’
Published by Melbourne Poets Union, edited by Anne Elvey, Katherine’s chapbook will be launched by Ross Donlon at The Maurocco Bar, Castlemaine, 2.30pm Sunday 29 November.

When Embers Dance is ‘an empathetic and hard hitting rendering of life in contemporary Australia,’ writes Sue King-Smith.
Poems of debilitating drought, bush fires, animal exploitation and family violence are interspersed with ‘hope and quiet joy—a bar in Seville… the birth of faith in a spring garden and poetic musings over a blank page.’

‘The constant note sounded in Katherine E. Seppings’ poems is one of compassion,’ says Ross Donlon. ‘She is able to express her feelings in precise, unsentimental language and through arresting imagery.’

Order When Embers Dance Here

August 7, 2015

Poetry Matters – Winning Entry

A winning entry in the Poetry Matters Sixth Annual Poetry Competition (2015) on the theme ‘Speaking of Love’, my poem ‘Golden Point’ was described as ‘outstanding and memorable’.
‘Golden Point by Katherine E Seppings takes us by the hand into a place where we face our fear of the dark, our fear of drowning, our fear of falling into nothing and disappearing. It is through love that she takes us there.’ Cheryl Howard, editor.
Also published in Issue 24 were my poems – ‘Extension of the Heart’ and ‘Centered’.
Read winning poem here – https://katherineseppings.com/poetry/

4 Comments

July 30, 2015

Blue Giraffe 14

Blue Giraffe 14 poetry magazine, Tasmania, presents the best of contemporary Australian poetry. Guest editor, Pete Hay, chose to include my poem ‘Avebury’.

Read poem here – https://katherineseppings.com/poetry/

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July 1, 2015

Your Beautiful Names

During the Castlemaine State Festival 2015, as a member of Castlemaine Wordmine, I had a poem included in Your Beautiful Names, a chapbook of poetry written in response to Our Beautiful Voices a collection of poems by asylum seekers. An exhibition and reading of this poetry was held in the Word Mine room, Castlemaine, in conjunction with the exhibition Out of the Darkness created by a group of Queenscliff artists and hosted by Castlemaine Rural Australians for Refugees and Christ Church.
Sat 28 March – Sun 5 April.

Read ‘Why’ by the asylum seeker and my response poem ‘Why’ here – https://katherineseppings.com/poetry/

2 Comments

May 24, 2015

Feature Poem in Melbourne Poets Union Newsletter

In September 1992, I travelled by train across Canada from Toronto to Jasper, in the Rocky Mountains, where The Russell Jackson Band was playing at the Athabasca Hotel.
My poem ‘The Dance’ was inspired by Russell Jackson, former BB King bassist, master of ‘Da Blues’.
The Melbourne Poets Union will publish a collection of my poetry later this year.

5 Comments

February 11, 2015

‘Boat People’

Right Now has published my poem ‘Boat People’ online.
Asylum seekers were the focus of the Dec 2014/Jan 2015 issue.
Right Now’s vision is an Australia where people have informed and
inspired discussions about human rights, equality and justice.

Creative Editor, Cara Gillespie, wrote: ‘I really liked the tone, urgency and imagery you’ve produced in this piece… (the poem) really suits what Right Now is trying to discuss.’

Read the poem here – http://rightnow.org.au/artwork/boat-people/

2 Comments

February 11, 2015

Poetry Monash 89

My poem ‘Leaving Alone’ was published in Poetry Monash,
Summer 2014 edition.

Leaving Alone

A kiss
can lead to
two sleepy bodies –
one washing,
the other drying
dishes.

It can lead to
a whole rainy day spent
in the middle of nowhere
under the car
looking
for what went wrong …

A kiss
can still lead to
not knowing
who I am anymore
or who I was driving home to.

It can only lead to memories …

and I have enough to carry
without those.

August 2, 2014

Co.lab – Words and Art 2014

Co.lab is an annual group exhibition presented by View Point Handmade Gallery (VPHG) and Bendarts featuring the collaborative work of writers and visual artists from Bendigo and surrounds.

I am exhibiting in two teams – as a poet with artist Eliza Tree
and as a photographer with poet Tru Dowling.
The 2014 Co.lab opening (6pm Thursday August 7) is the launch event for the inaugural Write on the Fringe Festival, a Capital Community Connect initiative.

Co.lab open – Thursday to Saturday, August 7th to 9th, coinciding with the Bendigo Writers’ Festival (Friday to Sunday, August 8th to 10th).

See an excerpt of my poem ‘Collecting Jaara History’ and a section of Eliza Tree’s painting ‘Fifteen Years to Gold’ as samples of the teams exhibiting at Co.lab, here – http://bendarts.org/Teams/index.html.

August 2, 2014

A Lightness of Being Anthology

According to editor Janette Fernando: ‘One of the tasks of the poet is to stop, look, listen, reflect and record the ‘present moment’ in a way that will resonate with the reader or provide a new perspective.’
I have two poems in A Lightness of Being published by Poetica Christi Press – ‘Home’ and ‘Coming to Rest’ which you can read here – https://katherineseppings.com/poetry/

HOME

Once upon a time
all loneliness
and restlessness
was on the outside
and inside
was a place like home.
Not of bricks and mortar,
walls,
fitted with doors,
fixed;
not somewhere
I had to move on from
to find where I belonged.
It was a place
more like the sun trapped
on a long day
amongst sand dunes,
more like
the sound of something:
distant,
long-awaited,
almost forgotten,
finally returning.
More like
the beginning of rain
before dawn
when the last thought
is relinquished,
bedded down,
laid to rest.
Home.

1 Comment

July 10, 2014

Castlemaine Cup 2

I won my first ‘Castlemaine Cup’ in April, now I’ve won again in June at the Castlemaine Poetry Readings, held each month at the Five Flags Hotel. Melbourne poet, Peter Bakowski, the featured poet, awarded the Cup for my poem ‘Collecting Jaara History.’ I will be exhibiting this poem alongside artist Eliza Tree’s painting ‘Land Rush to Gold Rush’ at Co.lab, a group exhibition at View Point Handmade Gallery, Bendigo, featuring the collaborative work of Central Victorian writers and visual artists, part of the first Write on the Fringe Festival, the Bendigo Writers Festival fringe festival (7,8 & 9 August).

2 Comments