The Architecture of Water: New Poetry Collection from Paul Squires of GingaTao

I got the best, early Christmas present the other day when I heard that a new poetry manuscript by Paul Squires came out.

Titled The Architecture of Water, it’s a sort of “best of” collection from Paul’s blog GingaTao which Paul felt was his ‘masterwork’: indeed, The National Library of Australia describes it as ‘a work of significance and long term research value’ and has archived it.  His friend Brad Fredricksen of Maekitso Cafe writes:

“To own The Architecture of Water is to hold a particular manifestation of Gingatao in the form of a narrative, or a guided tour if you like; not so much a selection of highlights (though every selection is), but rather an example of just one of the many ways it is possible to grasp Paul’s non-linear work of art in a linear fashion.”

When I’m asked who is my favorite poet or writer my heart says “Paul Squires.” I never met Paul in person but I knew him  first through his poetry blog “gingaao” then by email where we talked at length about poetry, blogging, social media, and the rapidly changing world.

Paul was the most supportive person I ever had in my life when it came to my writing, blogging, and poetry. He even gave me this “Seal of Approval”!

Paul died in July 2010 just two days before my mom; it was quite the double blow.

For these reasons and more, I am thrilled to learn that this week, Paul’s friends published a MSS Paul had prepared. They explain that “Paul originally submitted this manuscript to the judges of the 2010 Arts Queensland Thomas Shapcott Poetry Prize for an Unpublished Manuscript; the prize, had he been successful, $3000 and a publishing contract with University of Queensland Press. Sadly, Paul died a few weeks after submitting it, but not before indicating that he would like to self-publish it (or possibly an alternate version) if it proved unsuccessful with the judges. For the many of us who were touched by the beauty and intelligence of Paul’s work, and by his generosity of spirit, The Architecture Of Water will be an essential purchase and the truth of this will be self-evident.

Here’s a link to purchase The Architecture of Water . I am sure it will be special. I look forward to the day when my copy is in my hands.

Synchronistically, I had actually just been thinking about Paul.

you just flew over my house
i felt your shadow
there you are
in the form of a hawk
you circle and call
now you land in a eucalyptus tree

i see you
and you see me
through the window
doing yoga
writing
drinking coffee

you will be distracted by small birds
as that is your nature
at some point you will
make an intention movement
bob your head
take a crap
take off again

i will drive off
go get the small boy from school

when you awake
you will remember
flying
and the eucalyptus
and the taste of a small bird
a downy feather possibly
floating in your mouth

your throat tickles like something you know
but you can’t quite remember