When you are a world-renowned poet like Michael Harlow, it makes sense to have more than one book launch.

Celebrating his new collection ‘Renoir’s Bicycle’ at Central Stories in Alexandra on Sunday night (October 16), mixing and mingling with fellow poets, both published and new, you could tell Michael feels right at home in Central Otago.

This was actually his third book launch - the first one was in Christchurch on September 29 followed by another in Dunedin a week later.

Accomplished author Jillian Sullivan introduced his new work, explaining how Michael was a man with many talents - his first love being music.

“This is so evident in his work,” she said.

He was Central’s most international author, representing New Zealand at festivals around the world, with his books published in four different languages.

“His words just sing. They speak of love and heart,” Jillian said.

New Zealand authors Jillian Sullivan and Michael share some words

Michael was also very supportive of amateur writers and offered them guidance and support, she said.

His poetry includes Cassandra’s Daughter (2005, 2006), The Tram Conductor’s Blue Cap (a finalist in the 2010 New Zealand Book Awards), Sweeping the Courtyard, Selected Poems (2014), Heart Absolutely I Can (2014), Nothing For It But To Sing (2016, winner of the Otago University Press Kathleen Grattan Award) and The Moon in a Bowl of Water (2019). Take a Risk, Trust Your Language and Make a Poem (1986).

The ‘Poetry Party’ group, which has been together since 2018, hosted the Alexandra book launch and poetry evening, and guest writers were invited to share their own work as well as their favourites.

‘Our World’ - written by Michael Harlow, features in the new poetry corner at Central Stories Museum & Art Gallery in Alexandra

The evening started with some Shakespeare, and moved onto accomplished authors Brian Turner, Jillian Sullivan and Roger Browne. Brian described Michael's new work as vivid, insightful and quirky.   

One poetry group member, known as ‘Rob The Redneck’ shared a colourful piece called ‘Manuherikia Madness’ - about the ongoing controversy of water rights.

A new poetry corner has now also been set up in Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery, with space for people to come in and relax and read, or perhaps write some of their own.

Michael Harlow’s poem ‘Our World’ features on a mirror in the poetry corner - a piece that NASA commissioned him to write for the Polaris Trilogy, that will be launched aboard the Space X flight, scheduled to depart for the South Pole of the Earth’s Moon in 2023.

Residencies he has held include the Katherine Mansfield Memorial Fellowship and the Robert Burns Fellowship. In 2014 he was awarded the Lauris Edmond Memorial Prize for Distinguished Contribution to New Zealand Poetry, and in 2018 he received the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Poetry.