Monday 12th November we, rather ironically, hosted the launch of The Friday Poem, a new collection of poems originally published on the Spinoff as part of Steve Braunias’, also the editor of this collection, Spinoff Books page. The launch saw a myriad of hot, talented poets reading a poem of theirs from the book. An eclectic mix of young and old, Steve kindly stating each poets place and year of birth in emphasis, all serving their fresh literary takes on NZ.
The Friday Poem’s launch was the second in store launch by Steve and his publishing house Luncheon Sausage books in the past few weeks, the other being Leah McFall’s Karori Confidential, and it’s an affair we hope to foster for a long time to come.
A healthy crowd gathered to launch the book and to stare down the camera
Editor Steven Braunias introducing the poets
First up was Joy Holley reading her poem ‘Lana Del Ray’
Claudia Jardine stares you down while reading ‘My father dreams of his father’
Man of modern letters Bill Manhire reads ‘My World War 1 Poem’
Fiona Kidman flashing her poetic chops with ‘Man Weeping’
Eastborne poet Maggie Rainey-Smith reading her powerful ‘Jogging’
The penultimate poet James Brown reading ‘End’
2017 Adam Foundation Prize winner & 2018 Unity best seller Tayi Tibble reads ‘In The 1960’s an Influx of Maori Women’
The Friday Poem, published by Luncheon Sausage is available now in store and from Unity Books Online.
