Book review: BITER 

by Claudia Jardine (Auckland University Press, 2022)

Claudia Jardine is a bit of a polymath. She has an MA in classics from Victoria University of Wellington, is the reigning Christchurch Poetry Slam Champion, and is an independent musician. She is also very funny. BITER, her debut poetry collection, reflects all of the above. The book is a mix of translations of ancient Greek epigrams and modern takes on everything from the nutritional benefits of blowjobs to her dad’s inability to open a package of cheese without compromising the contents therein.

Claudia says she has taken “creative liberties” in her translations, and these liberties are a good time: “fear no more the swift lead of longing / fuckin’ Love has emptied its quiver in me” (Palatine Anthology V.268 – Paulus Silentiarius).

But she’s not shy to remind us, too, that a sweet love poem can melt the most cynical of hearts. “You leave / me at my door. Each step, hallway and window frame / feels like a tiny bereavement.” –

LAURA WILLIAMSON

We need your help

READ MORE
Laura Williamson Avatar
Laura Williamson
A writer, songwriter and poet based in Central Otago, Laura Williamson is the editor of 1964: mountain culture / aotearoa. She co-wrote The Blue Moments Project song and spoken word cycle, and her book The Bike and Beyond: Life on Two Wheels in Aotearoa New Zealand is out now as part of the BWB Text series.

Follow us on the Fediverse

What is this Fediverse thing? It’s the future of the social web, it’s open, non-commercial, ad-free and growing fast.

Start an account on Mastodon.nz or Mastodon.social and put this handle @[email protected] into the search box to follow all 1964 content.

Posted

in

, , ,