Conversations on a Raft is poetry of transitory notions, passing fancies and other short-term tenants. Jon Magidsohn shines the same light on garden tools and house pets as he does on true love and nightmares about infanticide. His affinity with memoir gives rise to many of his poems’ personal perspectives, and the rhythms of his words hint at his lifelong passion for songwriting. Music bleeds out of his poems like he’s trying to find something on the radio.
The centrepiece of this collection, ‘Conversation on a Raft’, comes from an actual conversation on an actual raft and it shows how Jon navigates the subtle undercurrents of those he connects with, seeing both the minutiae and the big picture; always searching for the why behind the what.
This same perspective passes through all of Jon’s poems.. This is Jon’s first collection of poetry.
About Immortal Highway: ‘It’s a terrific read, beautifully written and structured. I particularly admire how honestly [he] dealt with the emotions while, at the same time, avoiding any feeling of overdoing it or slipping towards sentimentality. A nicely honed balance that I found compelling.’
Judith Barrington: poet, memoirist and author of Writing the Memoir: From Truth to Art
