This is my friend Helen Lehndorf's collection of poetry, which is fresh of the printing press this week. Helen's poetry chronicles everyday life in an original, detailed and bold manner and draws the reader in close. She shines light on how it is to live in provincial NZ, the natural world, to be a mother, be in love. They are beautiful poems.
Helen loves to make things with textiles and many of the poems mention fabric, threads and stitches. Here is an excerpt from my favourite:
Mending pile
...
A hole is not a thing but the absence
of a thing. You broke this with all your wearing,
and I sewed and sewed until the holes
were nipped shut, the mend invisible
to all but the most discerning eye.
Hope is a darned hole.
You might recognise the cover image- the beautiful book design work was done by Sarah Laing and the embroidery is my 'winter branches' design.
The Comforter is published by Seraph Press in Wellington, and you can order copies through their website here.
I have an extra copy to give away here on the blog. Would you like one of your own? If so, just leave a comment and I will draw a winner (from anywhere in the world) on Monday morning.
Have a great weekend!
