“In the shape of his hand lay a river is an essential work of poetry for the mournful and benevolent alike.” Siobhan Harvey
I’m delighted to share a new review of In the shape of his hand lay a river, by Siobhan Harvey via Landfall Review Online. Siobhan is a poet, writer, editor, teacher and reviewer whose most recent collection Ghosts was long listed for two NZ Awards.
It was a privilege to be taught by Siobhan in 2014 when I did my Masters in Creative Writing (AUT). As such, this review feels especially poignant. I’ve found (as have many other writers) that there’s a reticence in New Zealand to both publish and review books about grief. More so if it’s mother-grief.
When someone connects to the work I’ve created, I breathe out because it tells me that it hasn’t disappeared into a void. We writers have reasons for going quiet, and often this comes about from the internal chatter that shouts, ‘What the hell are you doing this for?”
Kā mihi aroha Siobhan, thank you for this review. https://landfallreview.com/she-was-driving-a-scream-into-distance/#more-6294
Iona Winter 
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