Poets Michael Farrell, Lian Low and Harry Reid held Carlton Library captive this February in a reading event organized in partnership with Australian Poetry. Jacinta Le Plastier introduced the poets, who previously read as part of The Big Bent: a poetic exploration of gender and queerness at Melbourne Writers Festival 2018. Their work ranges from first dates to kick flips and everywhere in-between.

This is an edited recording. There are a few swears and some adult themes.

Michael Farrell is a poet whose books include A Lyrebird: Selected Poems (BlazeVOX [books]), I Love Poetry (Giramondo) and Writing Australian Unsettlement: Modes of Poetic Invention 1796–1945 (Palgrave Macmillan). You can find his poetry at Yarra Libraries (and anywhere else you source your reading material).

Harry Reid is poet from Melbourne. They co-host Sick Leave, a monthly reading series at the Gasometer Hotel. Their work can be found in Overland, Australian Poetry Journal, Cordite Poetry Review and elsewhere.

Lian Low is a writer and recipient of The Wheeler Centre's inaugural Next Chapter scheme. She is currently working on a young adult speculative fiction novel.

If you liked this reading you might enjoy the Australian Poetry Soundcloud page. Have a look for more recordings of Australian poetry read aloud.

Yarra Libraries recommends from our collection:

A Lyrebird : selected poems of Michael Farrell – Michael Farrell

Out of the box : contemporary Australian gay and lesbian poets – Michael Farrell

I Love Poetry – Michael Farrell

Cocky’s Joy – Michael Farrell