Would you like to review my 26th book – A Moving Landscape?

Jo Parfitt's poetry memoir A Moving Landscape

I can’t believe it, but I just wrote my 26th book. It’s been a scary old process this, because, for the first time ever, I am publishing my poetry and my memoir at the same time. Yep, that’s right. My life in verse. You see, I don’t admit it to everyone, but I write poetry too. Non-fiction, fiction, journalism AND poetry. So there you have it, 30 or so years of my life exposed for all to see. Those who did know of my poetry habit have been begging me to publish for years, so I guess I wrote it for you.

In this month’s Acclimate, the expat mag from Bangkok, they have published a preview selection of poems.

If you would like a review copy for your publication, then go ahead and send me your address and I’ll post you one. If you want it faster, I can send you a PDF.

You can order it on Amazon too.

A poem from my magical sailing trip

Shipmates

Relax.
No stick in the muds on Jabiru,
this reunion of strangers
soon became sailors,
as we keeled to the side
then stretched up to the sky,
felt our stiff limbs flex,
pulling wrists to the side.

Exhale.
Watch meandering thoughts subside
with each deep breath,
pushing the envelope of our comfort zones
with each tug of the tide.

Hush.
As slapping waves tap flat palms
against the hull,
they rock us gently,
soothe us to a lull and slumber,
then nudge us awake
when daylight slides into our berths.

Inhale.
Breathe in the air of freedom,
watch the flying fish arch up and forward,
see them glide,
while we too begin to dance to a new tune.
A slow reel,
switching partners,
finding new rhythm.
Learn to trust the swell of wind in the mainsail.
Let our bodies slip down into an altered state of mind.
Here lyrics lurk in every sentence,
and verse pulses in our veins.

Unwind.
Slowly, slowly we unskein
our busy, busy worlds,
furl and pleat the tasks that map
each ordinary day.
Here we reef our minds to catch
only things that really matter.

Free.
We winch in our worries
then hoist them high
to let them luff and flutter and then fly.
Pull hard on the halyard to let your spirits soar.

Shipmates.
Friendships are made here
as strangers share their stories
in the sunshine.
Each day melts into Paradise
from ‘Honey Honey’ with our muesli
to ‘I Feel Good’ moments through the day,
til every dusk is starlit
– a marvellous night for a ‘Moondance’ –
and the full moon lights our way.

Jo Parfitt, Marina Cay, British Virgin Islands 11th March 2009

200 copies of A Moving Landscape sold to Options Resource Careers

I am delighted to announce that within minutes of my 26th book being published Craig Toedtman, President of Options Resource Careers in PA ordered 200 copies for his clients.

‘This will be a great addition to our packets….with hopes of many more orders to come!’ wrote Craig in an email to me in which he confirmed his order.

A Moving Landscape is my memoir in poetry of the 21 years I spent overseas, moving from Dubai to Oman, to Norway, England and now to the Netherlands. It tells of reality of culture shock and loss and settling in as well as the immense pleasure I have derived from the variety of landscapes in which I have had the privilege to live.