Love Poems and Death Threats

Both wild and dynamic in its flair and vision, this collection of poetry maps the songlines—the poemlines—of an Australia scarred by invasion and injustice, yet brims with the vital energies of creativity and resilience.

With striking immediacy, Watson’s often satirical take on contemporary Australia, with its acquisitiveness and materialism, bears witness to an ancient culture protesting against the implacable march of development. Honest, powerful, and compelling, this new collection from one of Australia’s most recognized Indigenous poets reveals the ways love might go wrong, but, equally, its transformative power to heal and resonate in unexpected ways.

Love Poems and Death Threats breaks new ground for Indigenous Australian writing and adds to Samuel Wagan Watson’s reputation as one of Australia’s most exciting poets.