DREAMTIME by John Rankine : A Short Review

 

John T. Rankine, who calls himself a professional nomad, is an espalier expert, working in landscaping. He travels by bike and train to teach and research, and has evolved over a period of time as a social realist, writing poetry.

He conceives his DREAMTIME as a collection of poems, showing evolution of his vision and interests in life, besides highliting the varied influences that shape his poems. However, he cautions: "This is not meant to be a homogeneous book of verse...but a compilation of poetry that covers some 45 years in the making."

Celebrating his roots, nature and earth, he amalgamates familial history and memories, personal observations and influences, and poetry-- his own and others. Rankine honours me by including two of my poems from AGAINST THE WAVES: SELECTED POEMS (2021) along with poems by Robbie Burns, Jenny Saulwick and others.

John Rankine's poems are genuine, readable and valuable addition to Contemporary Australian Poetry.

--Professor R K Singh