Customer Reviews

A Moving Landscape

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jo Parfitt illustrates her wealth of life experiences in this collection of poems, written while living in her home country and abroad, over a span of more than 25 years. She shows tremendous versatility in writing about a variety of topics, including: homesickness, personal milestones such as marriage, birth, achieving a goal, nature, and impressions of her host countries. I found it particularly interesting to learn more about Jo through her poetry. Her use of metaphors is very effective and she gives us just enough information to make us curious, but doesn't spoon-feed us. One of my favorites is The Graduate of 1983, in which Jo talks about ambition, success, soul-searching, and character stereotypes.

The poems are arranged chronologically and record Jo's thoughts, observations, and emotions at each stage of her life and before and after each international move. Although I have only lived abroad once, I could very easily relate to her perspectives, as all changes in life- even the welcome ones- bring both positive and negative feelings. A Moving Landscape has inspired me to consider writing a series of poems about my own experience of repatriating after 5 years abroad.

Whether you are a longtime reader of poetry or new to the genre, you will find this book to be a beautiful addition to your library.

What a wonderful gift to share with the world. Jo Parfitt tells her story through poetry in A Moving Landscape that moves me to tears, and laughter, each time I dip into it. She generously shares her feelings, happy, sad, and sometimes resentful - all emotions that those on the expatriate treadmill have felt but been unable to voice. Some poems are amusing, "I'd always poo-pooed the idea that once wooed I'd jack in my job for a bloke," is the start of her wedding speech which heralded her roving life. Some are angry, "Take me. Pluck me from my home and friends" and speak of her frustration at being transferred again. And some are unbearably poignant as Jo writes of her mother, "I'll find you in the mirror when I trace the lines upon my face."
Her poetry follows a global journey with words intense with longing and sadness, or colourful and evocative of exotic scents and scenes. But words also of joy at the simple things that often give the most pleasure - a child's smile or learning to belly dance. Let the beauty of her words and landscapes help you on your travels.