How Decent Folk Behave

How Decent Folk Behave is a poetry collection written during 2020's lockdowns and global upheaval. The book captures pivotal moments including the Australian bushfires, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Clarke observes both local and international events through a sharp political lens, documenting responses to crisis and examining human behavior under pressure. The poems move between Melbourne streets and worldwide happenings, recording history as it occurs. The collection incorporates different poetic forms and styles, from free verse to more structured pieces. Clarke's background as a spoken word poet influences the rhythms and cadences throughout the work. The poems raise questions about morality, privilege, and what constitutes "decent" behavior in times of widespread emergency. Through documenting these unprecedented events, the collection explores how communities either unite or fracture when faced with catastrophe.

Readers praise Clarke's poetry collection for capturing the emotions and experiences of living through 2020's challenges, particularly in Australia. Many note the raw honesty about racism, lockdowns, and climate change. Multiple reviewers mention the poem "On Not Being an Artist in Residence" as a standout piece. Readers comment on effective use of form and structure to convey urgency, with one calling the collection "a time capsule of collective trauma." The mix of personal and political themes resonates with many. Some readers found certain poems too direct or lacking subtlety in their messaging. A few mention that the pandemic-focused pieces may feel dated quickly. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.13/5 (75 ratings) Amazon AU: 5/5 (3 ratings) Note: This book has limited online reader reviews available, as it was published recently and primarily distributed in Australia. Most reviews come from poetry blogs and Australian literary sites.

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🖋️ Many poems in the collection were written in real-time during 2020, capturing the immediate emotional impact of events like the Australian bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic 📚 Maxine Beneba Clarke is an Australian writer of Afro-Caribbean descent who has won numerous awards, including the ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year for her memoir "The Hate Race" 🌏 The book addresses global social justice movements, particularly the Black Lives Matter protests that occurred during the pandemic lockdowns ✍️ Clarke often performs her poetry as spoken word, and many pieces in this collection are written with oral performance in mind 🏆 The collection was shortlisted for the 2022 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Poetry and won the ABA Booksellers' Choice Adult Non-Fiction Book of the Year