AustLit

'‘A second gratifying collection of poems from Decima Wraxall. Flame is an odyssey of diverse themes from nature, history, anxiety, loss, love, transcendence. Always a liminal struggle from the certainty of ‘staircase houses and hedges clipped into obedience’ to being on the thresholds ‘lit by firefly light’, ‘gardens taking golden sun baths before dark’, ‘a miracle clasped in loving arms’, ‘the surge of one melds with ripples of the other’, I am reminded of Kahlil Gibran’s words: ‘the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears’. Delight in poems that speak to the paradox of dreams, courage, and spirituality, a cornucopia of the poetic emotional spectrum. Enjoy the marvels of the natural world, the honesty of family and the joys and trials of international travel.’ – Colleen Keating' (Publication summary)

'Decima Wraxall’s poems mirror moods of the natural world and humanity in a rich diversity of themes and settings. Visit the magnificent and sacred monolith of Uluru in Central Australia, share its secrets. In Peru, fly over the Nazca Lines, ponder on the huge icons of a lost civilisation. Savour moving paeans, paying tribute to the courage of those facing their own mortality. Share the pain of saying goodbye, juxtaposed against the frantic dating dance - alone - by a woman past her prime. Ageing is explored in its many dimensions, with a side dish of exuberance from the very young. Reflect on hardships of the frontier days. Imagine the dispossessed watching civilisation emerge with swords and muskets, indigenous rituals and ceremonies ignored as savage. Above all, the universal shines through in this thoughtful collection.'   (Publication summary)