National Trust Poet-In-Residence Program 2009

Poet-In-Residence

Poet Nick Flittner is the official Poet In Residence for the National Trust of Australia (Tasmania) for a six-month period from August 2009 to January 2010. During this time Nick will use the National Trust’s properties as a stimulus for the creation of a series of poems. The National Trust is delighted to have the opportunity to have a poet’s eye cast across its properties and its work, and hopes the poetry will provide National Trust members and visitors with a different and maybe deeper appreciation and understanding of the value of the work it undertakes on behalf of the Tasmanian community.

Nick is writing poems to accompany the National Trust’s current exhibition ‘Tasmania’s Rural Cultural Landscape's which will be touring the state during 2009 and 2010. Nick is particularly well suited to this task as he has both an English and a farming background, and currently works with the farming sector in Tasmania.

As part of the Residency Nick will give readings of his work at particular venues and times, and will take part in National Trust activities where possible.

Nick provides his own images to accompany his works.

Nick says.....

Being a Poet In Residence does not mean I am able to take up residence at Franklin House, or Home Hill or Clarendon, more’s the pity. It does mean that I am able to spend time wandering the corridors, rooms and gardens of the National Trust’s wonderful old historic properties, charged with the task of exploring, describing, interpreting, or simply responding to what I find there. Sometimes I find poems lying hidden in dark corners, or sometimes they leap out at me when I’m least expecting it. Sometimes poems are about the properties themselves, sometimes a poem evolves from something I see, or imagine, or feel after spending some time in a particular location. These are what I call Poems of Place.

I would like to thank the National Trust for this opportunity, and hope the poems provide enjoyment to those who read them, or at least a moment’s thought. Everyone has their own taste in poetry just as every poet their own style and interests. Poetry can be a great way to explore the highways and byways of life – and the greatest enjoyment is in finding just the right words for the occasion.

Bio:

Born in England Nick came to Australia when he was 22 and accidentally stayed for ever. A Tasmanian since 1996 Nick has been writing poetry on and off for most of his life, and currently finds himself in an ‘on’ stage. He has had poems published in many places and most enjoys having poems published where poetry is not usually found, most recently in Tasmanian health, farming and service club journals.

Nick’s day job is working with the Tasmanian farming sector, and he recently enjoyed taking part in a Night of Bush Yarns and Poetry to support farmers in drought. Just to prove that grey hair does not mean old, Nick has a website where poems never die www.nickflittner.wordpress.com