Libby Hathorn’s exquisite new poetry book, Mother Earth is launched by Colleen Keating.
A celebration to launch Libby’s wonderful new poetry collection was most appropriate in Poetry week. It was my honour to hold the book high and declare it launched at the Society of Women Writers Launch at the State Library, Wednesday Meeting July 12th 2023.
It is a great honour and such a privilege to hold up for you this new book by the award -winning children’s writer, Libby Hathorn and perceptive illustrator, Christina Booth . A new poetry book called Mother Earth. For me a stunning title having written the story of the mystic Hildegard of Bingen who said in the 12th century
“The earth is our mother. We must look after her. Without her air, her water, soil and light we have no life.” Down the centuries it is something that is too easily and conveniently forgotten. And now for our children we are gifted with this book set here in Australia.
I believe one of the greatest gifts we can hand on to our children and grandchildren is an awareness of nature, encouraging a sense of awe and wonder. In this book Libby makes the children aware of their senses in cities and in the bush, all around in gardens, parks, by rivers and beach . Then they will be curious, life-long learners and have resilience for the dark times of loss and grief for nature is our teacher and mother earth will show them the way.
Listen and enjoy the playful poem The Wonder Thing with its refrain to keep us guessing. (I read the poem here) But it doesn’t end there . The reader is teased even further with the answer RETAW.
It took a few seconds for the answer from the audience WATER.
Libby in your poetry you give us this wonder and Christina’s illustrations are palpable. Congratulations.
Two last things . . .
Firstly I like how the young reader is called forth and challenged. they are not written down to. Libby includes words and ideas to extend the young reader.
And secondly
These poems do not shy away from exposing our young readers to the fragility of nature and the responsibility of humans to care for it. Poems on pollution, dread of cane toads , loss of habitat are not denied. The importance of conservation, sustainability, the presence of Aboriginal spirit, interconnectedness of all living things. A poem called Bushfire Baby about our little koalas in the drought and fires , a poem Rainforest Song, on the consequences of culling forests I’ll read just a stanza,
“Don’t fell the tree’
that stood so long
leave bird and bush
where they belong.
and the drawing of the bewildered bird on the stump of the tree looking for its its home that has gone.
And in the poem Garden Australia we imagine being a drone,
hovering over our landscapes , I’ll read just a stanza
“Plains, ridges, and valleys,
Woodlands and grassland,
Sedgelands and swamplands,
Forests and marshlands,
. . .
what do we do with treasures so rare?
Protect them, and love them, and then we can share.
In the eponymous poem, Mother Earth the poem calls for our stewardship . The refrain reads,
“ Things of beauty, things of shame
through the cities, in the flame
lets dream of what we can become
Mother earth I am your son,
Food and shelter, climate , water
Mother earth, I am your daughter.
Libby’s new book, Mother Earth is timely, informative, playful eg keeps you awake sometimes you have to turn the book upside down to read, it is hopeful, reflective, eg the last poem wants me to go and find an old photo, our first glimpse of the earth from space in 1969 and show our grandchildren that glimpse of the tiny blue dot that is our home.
“Astronauts saw you
from space and so far
so blue and so fragile
and loved what you are.!
With each turn of the page, Libby invites us all to embrace our role as custodians of the Earth and to cherish the precious gift of nature.
So it is great joy here at SWW, I declare Mother Earth by Libby Hathorn launched.
