Cut Lunch Poems Author:Chris Andrews From Carolyn Tetaz, Cordite Poetry Review (online) — Cut Lunch, Chris Andrews second collection of poems, is a work strong on nostalgia and reflection, which is neatly captured in the title. In this age of foccacia, ciabiatta and pide, a cut lunch is an object from our recent past, a descriptor for plain white bread, single fillings and frugal pr... more »acticality. Part of the charm of this collection is Andrews fascination with the poetry inherent in the everyday, what he calls minor poetries, and a cut lunch is an apt symbol of his affection for the poetry of cupboards under the sink. It is also a phrase that summons images of symmetry and, as with much of Andrews poetry, the visual is gently reinforced by his skilful use of language, in this case, the assonance of the title.
The structure of Cut Lunch reinforces the symmetrical flavour of this collection. The book is organised into three sections. Parts I and III both contain 21 poems, all written in the same form and rhyme scheme, and every third poem of Part I has a mirror image in Part III, such as Movie (I), Part I and Movie (II), Part III. The poems of Part II, the meat in the sandwich, as it were, are varied in form and length. The sections of this book are unified by Andrews close and questioning examination of urban rituals and practices. Cut Lunch is a selection of Andrews meditations, musings and digs, launched from subjects such as Scones, Dumb Things and Weekliness . . .
Cut Lunch, with its references to Mr Whippy, Lickety Splits, Victoria Bitter, Channel 9, trams and cricket, is firmly located in urban Australia. From this address, Andrews reflects on the ironies, injustices and colours of this world with skill and insight, sounding his poetry from the rumble of wheelie bins and Enos ever-bright Windows opening sound.« less