The Weight of Irises

'then. . . we realize this is a floating world / the weight of irises / pulling everthing away / from the centre / in spite of the red heart / pinning it like an arrow'.

Nicolette Stasko's poetry invites us in by its contradictory surprises. Deliberately cool, it uncovers emotional depth. The lightness and deftness of her touch can expose our darkness. In her hands an iris can shift the world or illuminate the corner of a room.

'Her control, both emotional and poetic, is awesome... a triumph of critical and creative distance from the autobiographical self. At times, her poems recall the high points of Imagism.' (Don Anderson, Sydney Morning Herald). 'Stasko is one of our finest and most sophisticated female voices.' (Suzy Baldwin, Voices). '...while being controlled and poised, the poems unswervingly confront the terrible and sad in life... an individual who is deeply affected by her experiences.' (Adrian Wiggins, Southerly). 'A painterly quality in poems that make the mundane shine.' (Larry Schwartz, The Sunday Age).