Whisper of a Crows Wing

Discover the profound richness of "Whisper of a Crow's Wing," the second collection of poetry by Majella Cullinane. This beautifully crafted paperback features 88 pages of lyrical exploration, published by Otago University Press. Sizeable at 150 x 230 mm, this poetry book captures the essence of human experience through a unique blend of New Zealand and Irish heritage. Cullinane’s powerful voice resonates throughout as she delves into the realms of life, death, motherhood, and the haunting echoes of grief and loss. Each poem invites readers to untangle the intricacies of memory and imagination, brilliantly illustrating the sublime in everyday moments. With evocative language, Cullinane conjures stark imagery - from the bittersweet remnants of family life to the gentle nuances of acceptance and healing. Perfect for poetry enthusiasts and those seeking deep emotional resonance, this collection offers a delicate balance of thought and feeling that transcends borders and time. Experience the profound elegance and mastery of language that make this book an unforgettable journey into the depths of the human spirit. Perfectly suited for readers who appreciate reflective literature, it serves as a rich resource for anyone exploring themes of resilience, identity, and the fragility of love. Let this exquisite collection resonate with you and uplift your spirit, encouraging a deeper understanding of life’s complexities.

Author: Majella Cullinane Publisher: Otago University Press
Bind: paperback
Dimensions: 150 x 230 mm
Pages: 88


Published simultaneously in Ireland by Salmon Poetry, Majella Cullinane’s remarkable second collection, Whisper of a Crow’s Wing, is the work of a poet with a distinct and powerful voice. These poems weigh and examine oppositions - the distance of time and place, the balance of life and death, the poet’s New Zealand home and her Irish heritage. Cullinane conjures the ghosts that haunt places and objects; our inner and outer world, with rich, physical language: ‘barter the night for the whorl of a wave’s tongue, the relish of brine. Know what it is to untangle light from the tooth of a roving tide.’ (Invitation) She writes with lyrical intensity about motherhood and family life, including the experience of miscarriage, and the process of moving through grief and loss to a place of acceptance and healing. This is a profound collection from a poet alive to the hidden world of memory and imagination, of the sublime in the everyday, tempered always by a shadow of the fragility of life and love. There is an elegance and poise and care in the language of these poems, an unobtrusive mastery and ease in their cadences and rhythms. Here is writing so close to the sound of how our speech usually arranges itself, and yet set with a hard delicacy that makes it quite something else - memorable, direct, focused to the movement of how the poems present both thought and feeling. - Vincent O’Sullivan