Murray Alfredson has many moods, many dictions, many themes. He at once glories in and laments the ephemeral, the only lasting quality in his world. This harmonises with his Buddhist outlook on life.
His is a religious sensibility that draws, however, on many traditions and myths, one of respect for all beings, the soils, the rocks, the plants, the people and other animals, the living, the dead. The moods range widely, from the tortures of mental illness through deep serenity to fun, love joys, wry humour and satire.
He works with sharp thoughts, sharp images and often singing words. He writes and translates in varied forms from ancient to disciplined free verse and has a way of surprising even his poet friends.
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
“When this anthology first came to my attention, I had no idea what to expect from it. Whatever it was the works far exceeded my expectations and I highly recommend this collection of poems to poetry lovers everywhere.
I was excited and amazed by the wide variety of styles of poetry: each at a thought provoking level. The anthology displays a sound knowledge and understanding of the important ideologies and beliefs of the world.
I was particularly interested by ‘Isaac’s boyhood’. It addresses issues that had concerned me and I was delighted to learn of someone else voicing the thoughts so eloquently.
Another poem that fascinated me was ‘Bi- meets uni-polar’. My cousin is bi-polar and I have lived with clinical depression for years. This poem aptly reflects many of our conversations!
I have already read and enjoyed ‘The Sandwich’ several times, on each occasion discovering new images, aspirations and impressions. So few lines weave so detailed a pattern.
One of the translations he includes is ‘Presence’, one of my favourite Goethe poems. I enjoyed the translation, and the excuse to re-read the original.”
– Valerie Penny’s Book Reviews Link to full review
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
“Certainly not for the faint-hearted, [The] Gleaming Clouds by Murray Alfredson is the work of an unsparingly brave poet who looks at life, just as it is and hard in face. With impressive and sometimes daring linguistic virtuosity, forever looking to amplify experience, find meaningful resonance, explore faith in its fullest sense and take honest comfort wherever possible.
Alfredson’s translations from old Norse and 18th century German texts are also touchingly excellent – not only technically, but equally persuasive in their capture of nuance and a beautiful sensitivity of tone that seems to speaks directly to the very soul of our forebears.
[The] Gleaming Clouds is altogether a marvellous and impressively unique creative achievement that, for me, makes sense of one poets life lived always ambitiously and with consistent integrity.
You will struggle to find a robust literary read quite like this anywhere else in the contemporary canon and for that reason, it has my highest recommendation.”
– Scott Hastie, Writer and Poet, Angel Voices
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
“The gleaming clouds is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure. Through chronicling the experiences of mythological or religious figures, his own life, or the experiences of others, Alfredson offers up commentary and observations on human interaction.
He captures those moments that are or will become common to us all. With his eloquent use of language, Alfredson interprets why and how these events occurred by infusing his poetry with the frailties, foibles, failures, successes, and strengths of mankind.”
– O.P.W. Fredericks, Editor and Publisher, The Lives You Touch Publications
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
“Murray Alfredson’s work is embued with Spirit, the spirit that lives primarily in the natural world. Alfredson also deftly infuses mythos of the past with layers of meaning relevant for today’s audiences. In “Of Gods and Truths” he revisits the legends of Osiris, Amun and Siddhartha to remind us that our precious and gleaming truths are also exquisitely ephemeral.
A book to be read and ruminated over and read again.”
– Lisa Alvarado, Author of Raw Silk Suture and Still Life