I was curious to have a look at a Kamini Press publication
so got a hold of Glenn W. Cooper’s poetry book Some Natural Things. The book I received was first edition and
signed by the author. I was also thrown in a signed copy of Gerald Locklin’s
poem ‘Two Torch Singers’. The book is approximately 80 x 55 mm in size, hand
made, self assembled and printed on quality Lessebo Linne 100 g paper. The cover
features a water colour by Henry Denander, the publisher of Kamini Press.
Cooper’s collection consists of twenty-five short poems
which examine rain/ storms as a motif to stir human emotions, thoughts, memories.
These are gentle, evocative free verse poems which explore the well trodden
themes of failure, the loss of love, discovery, small pleasures, growing old-
without the sentiment or bullshit.
This book can be read carefully a couple of times in half
an hour. I found that although I enjoyed reading Cooper’s work these poems only just
start to wet my appetite. I have followed his work over many years and the
Armidale, New South Wales resident is one of a few Australians to consistently publish quality poetry in
the international small press. He has written many chapbooks but I would like
to read a larger collection of his poetry which does justice to the full body
of his work.
Blurbs of Glenn W. Cooper’s book and further info on how you
can buy his book can be found at Kamini Press here: http://kaminipress.com/2009/09/20/glenn-w-cooper-some-natural-things/
More on Cooper’s many chapbooks can be found here: http://www.librarything.com/author/cooperglennw
