Paul Bibby
The road is as long as the sky is wide
And the horizon is a hyphen between past and future
Drawn from local poet Matt Hetherington’s new book ‘The Love of the Sun’, these lines say much about the past few years of the poet’s life.
In 2016 Hetherington ‘escaped’ from Melbourne to the warmer climes of Murwillumbah after his marriage came to an end.
It was a big transition for the 50-year-old, and one which has had a profound impact on his life and work.
‘It was lack of sun mostly,’ Hetherington says, completely deadpan, of his decision to flee the southern capital.
‘I lived down there for 18 years and each winter got that little bit harder than the year before.
‘Some plants need more sun than others…and I don’t know anyone who loves sun more than I do. ‘
The poetry collection, Hetherington’s fifth book, also delves into the themes of love and passion.
‘I always write about women, love, sex and eroticism – that’s definitely another theme in the book,’ he says.
‘There’s a part of it too that’s about heartbreak – poems about my marriage coming to an end.’
Locals will have the chance to hear the some of Heatherington’s work read by the poet himself when he launches ‘The Love of the Sun’ this Sunday (November 25) at Murwillumbah’s Regent Cinema.
The poet will be joined by fellow wordsmith Benjamin Wild and musician Andy Jans-Brown at the launch.
The event is free and kicks off at 2pm, with copies of the book available for $12.95.
For more info go to https://recentworkpress.com/product/the-love-of-the-sun
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