Taking Off

Beneath the wit, the no-nonsense honesty, the rigorous clarity of sense and the sinewy rhythmic energy of the poems surfaces runs the craft of a sophisticated, confident and well-read poet. The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature" Brian Turner s first book of poems, Ladders of Rain, won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize. He has published five other critically acclaimed collections and has written in a wide range of other genres. He lives in Central Otago, New Zealand.