Flight Mode

These poems emerged slowly, and through aleatory conversations between Shé and Jen, in which they identified points of connection in and beyond poetry. Both poets are interested in experiment, and in women poets’ voices; both have lived in Western Australia and been captivated by the light, the space, and the vastness of that state; and both poets have spent a fair bit of time in mourning and in responding to the loss of loved ones. They are also interested in movement in creative and scholarly terms. For Shé, the elemental world is a motivating force; for Jen, it’s travel—hence the title of this joint publication.

‘In this collection Jen Webb and Shé Hawke coalesce human and elemental experiences of air, water, and spirit. Flight Mode takes us swimming through waves of elegiac illuminations of grief and longing as well as irreverent re-articulations of meta-narratives, and under-spoken concerns at the nature culture threshold. The entanglement of these two vastly different writing styles delivers liminal and lyrical narration that ripples across inner monologues, skin, desire, and world-making.  These writers will take your breath away and then help you jubilantly breathe once more. ‘

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Clifton Evers