Liar, Liar, Lick, Spit

Fibs,
porkies, little white lies, absolute whoppers and criminal evasions: the ways
we can deceive each other are legion.





Liar, Liar, Lick, Spit, the new
collection by Otepoti poet and writer Emma Neale, is fascinated by our
doubleness. Prompted by the rich implications in a line from Joseph Brodsky –
‘The real history of consciousness starts with one’s first lie’ – it combines a
personal memoir of childhood lies with an exploration of wider social
deceptions.





From
the unwitting tricks our minds play, to the mischievous pinch of literary
pastiche; from the corruptions of imperialism or abuse, to the dreams and
stories we weave for our own survival, these poems catalogue scenes that seem
to suggest our species could be named for its subterfuge as much as for its
wisdom. Yet at the core of the collection are also some tenets to hold to: deep
bonds of love; the renewal children offer; a hunger for social justice; and the
sharp reality that nature presents us with, if we are willing to look.

Format: Paperback
Pages: 89
Imprint: Otago University Press
Publication date: 14/11/2024