by Michael Fitzsimons and Philip Birch. Published by Fitzbeck Publishing 2015. Reviewed by Alice Sinnott RSM. 

Now You Know brings together an inaugural collection of poignant poems by Wellington writer, Michael Fitzsimons, and a series of luminous weather photographs taken by Philip Birch who was Fitzsimons’s close friend and the catalyst for this collection. When Philip Birch received a diagnosis of terminal cancer in November 2013, these friends of more than 40 years decided to co-operate on a publication, which would combine some of Philip’s vivid weather photographs with poems by Michael. This is an especially moving result of their creative teamwork.

Despite the sadness which triggered its creation, Now You Know is essentially an optimistic book. The first series of poems, A Slow Show, explores and describes the spiritual underpinnings of many apparently unremarkable events and people. I mention just three of the most engrossing for me in this series, A love I can’t undo, Little white boat, and Ride in the hearse.

The second series of poems entitled, Now You Know is about Philip. The initial poems in this collection including, You saw it coming, The garden and the final poem, Now you know, are among the gems of the whole collection.

The poems sparkle as they embrace themes of new life, life’s surprises and revelations and death itself. This beautiful collection of poems and photographs finds inspiration in the wild weather of life— its wonder, its sadness and its surprises. Wellington poet, Gregory O’Brien, describes the poems thus: “these graceful poems are poems of equilibrium, acceptance, and holding fast.”

Now You Know is the stimulating and moving result of an innovative partnership. Michael Fitzsimons is a professional writer and director of the Wellington communications and publishing company, FitzBeck Creative. He is the co-creator of two very attractive, illustrated books: The Wellington Book and The NZ Book. He is also the co-author with Nigel Beckford of With a Passion — The Extraordinary Passions of Ordinary New Zealanders.

Philip Birch was a former priest, theology lecturer, counsellor, landscape gardener and a passionate observer of weather. He was a parishioner at St Joseph’s, Mt Victoria, for more than 20 years and established the garden around the church. Diagnosed with cancer in November 2013 he died in October 2014.

Published in Tui Motu InterIslands magazine December 2015.