Patient Property: a journey through leukaemia

Patient Property: a journey through leukaemia is the debut collection of 61 haiku and tanka by Kirsten Cliff Elliot (NZ). “Elliot gives us poems chiselled from her own mortality. Those who have worked with cancer patients, or walked similar treatment paths with those they love, cannot fail to appreciate the haunting truth within her words. But Elliot’s clear and concise language, as well as fresh imagery and metaphors, means her work is easily accessible to anyone regardless of their background or experience. Elliot’s keen observances sharpen her haiku and tanka in place and time, and her authentic voice and understanding of Japanese short-forms adds resonance to this perfectly calibrated poetry. She has a keen understanding of the importance of dreaming room to allow the reader to connect intimately with her writing. This insightful journey through her battle with leukaemia is lyrically sentient and filled with the personal music of blood and dreams.” – David Terelinck