Poetry d’amour: The love theme in contemporary Australian poetry

Abstract

Most poetry is motivated by love, which has been the driving force behind many poets and historical events. Love has resulted in monuments, epics, and cenotaphs, and the best love poems are timeless monuments to the legendary worth of love. Australian literature has a rich history of love, with poets like Banjo Paterson, Henry Lawson, and Judith Wright presenting unique perspectives. Paterson's romanticized love, rooted in nature, often conveys nostalgia, while Lawson's harsh realities reflect Australian life hardships. Wright and Murray's 20th-century poetry focuses on introspective themes and personal relationships, connecting human emotions to the natural world. The present paper critiques Poetry d'Amour 2014: Love Poems, an anthology of love poems selected and edited by Liana Joy Christensen from Australian poets participating in ‘Poetry d'Amour 2014’ and entries in the 2014 ‘Poetry d'Amour’ Love Poetry Competition. This review paper attempts to provide a critical insight into Australian poets' contemporary presentation of the love theme, focusing on the poems meticulously picked and presented in the anthology's eight thematic divisions.