Better known as the author of such successful novels as Candy (1997) and Isabelle the Navigator (2000), Luke Davies is in the fortunate position in these cautious times of having a publisher willing to support his parallel career as a poet. It is career that has already delivered Davies the 2000 Queensland Premier’s Award for poetry for his last volume, Running with Light. This new collection consists of two parts: a sequence called ‘Totem’ and a second section ‘40 Love Poems’. While the consistent theme throughout is passionate love, Davies is not one to reach for the red roses. ‘Totem’ itself is a fascinating ramble, a breathless grab-bag of finely tuned observations and conceits that seeks to describe the nature, impact and progress of a love affair. Love transforms the world around the lovers, causing the whole of nature, the universe even, to be seen in new and surprising ways. It’s heady stuff, and while it may lose a reader seeking more structure and less imagery, it contains much originality. ‘40 Love Poems’ is more formal, Elizabethan even, but no less passionate. Some might find Davies’ language a little mannered, but few could doubt his precision with words. In all, while Totem is unlikely to break out of the poetry section, it certainly merits its place there.

Andrew Wilkins is AB&P’s poetry editor

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