'The Rain Heron'...

some say
there's
a huge heron
of legend
the colour of rain

grab the plumage
grab cold liquid
running ice
and
mid autumn
could turn to a furnace
of barren fields
dust
and sun-bleached bones

some know
a huge heron
the colour of rain
and an oak tree

enter
soldiers
a coup
hunting
the wild ones
the ones who chose to be running wild
and the ones
who simply
became wild

a huge heron
the colour of rain
and an oak tree
or a cave

hungers unfold
criss-cross
attack
defend
relentless hungers
with wills of their own
smudging
reason
and soul

but there is always
the heron
of legend
the huge heron
the colour of rain
needing
demanding
protecting
the oak
or a cave

on a mountain

the rain heron's
mountain

'The Rain Heron' was born on this mountain - Mount Wellington in Tasmania
For more detail on the connection see Robbie Arnott's comments HERE


MY BOOKTOPIA REVIEW 19th June 2020 
A delicious read. Robbie Arnott bakes a tantalising narrative with lots of intriguing layers of mystery, all set in a descriptive series of landscapes. The rain heron could almost be related to the phoenix legend. Toward the end, however, it seems that all the questions and pain need closure. In some ways, it seems the 'baking' is a little overdone. But still, the book stands as a most enjoyable experience.


MY GOODREADS REVIEW
The Rain Heron by Robbie Arnott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

'The Rain Heron' is a whirl of intimate stories of people under stress. Any connection with the relief of the rain heron depends on how these people value the bird as a life-giver of rain. They can't own the heron - though some try. They can only respect its contribution to their personal lives and their community. To ignore this wonder bird is to do so at your peril. It means ignoring Mother Nature herself. Robbie Arnott creates a tantalising narrative with multiple layers of mystery, all set in a descriptive series of interchanging verdant and barren landscapes. Ultimately, the rain heron element could almost be related to the phoenix legend.
Toward the end of the tale, however, it seems that all the characters' questions and pain need closure. For me, I felt a small weakness, believing that some of that closure could have been left to the reader's imagination. Overall, the novel is a fresh, exhilarating ride swinging through many genres, challenging social and personal attitudes of our times.

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