LIVING on the coast at Freshwater East, Rhoda Hodes first became known in the area for her paintings, shown at her studio-gallery in Pembroke. Vigorous work, with strong colour combinations and contrasts, was peopled by musicians and dancers, fishermen and riders, and told stories of Wales, of the Bible and of Rhoda's life. But now she is also a poet, and words are her paint: 'Clouds, Mountains and Us' is the title of the second book from the pen of Rhoda Hodes, born and brought up in South Africa, but resident of Pembrokeshire for some years. The book groups the 70 poems into seven sections, delineating the poet's life and what preoccupies her mind. A childhood in South Africa is recalled, with reference to the landscape and to her grandparents and older relatives, before Rhoda travelled to Israel with a friend in 1951 to live and work on a kibbutz. She left Israel 14 years later having married and produced two children. Israel has its own section of poems, with the astonishing landscape of the country being described directly and the serious issues of religion and division being tackled along with descriptions of homely occupations. Coming to the UK - via Greece in 1965, Rhoda lived in London where her artistic career flourished. Some years later, after the death of her husband in 2001 and the subsequent closure of her gallery in Pembroke, Rhoda took to words. A collection of her earlier works produced her first book of poetry called 'Offerings' in 2004. Described as 'a joyous book with a vivid sense of the life force present throughout' by Dr. Raymond Garlick (poet and former editor of the Anglo-Welsh Review), it was illustrated by Rhoda's paintings. Rhoda's life in Pembrokeshire has its own section, the largest, 'My Wales'. Here her everyday sights of shoreline, sea and sky, walks and journeys, and glimpses of shy creatures are rejoiced in, made magical or profound. 'Clouds, Mountains and Us', written in rhythmic but not rhyming verse, has a loose easiness that belies its solid core. The book will be 'officially' launched with a poetry reading event at Art Matters Gallery in Tenby, from 7 pm until 9 pm, tomorrow (Saturday). There is no charge and everyone is invited. Rhoda Hodes will read from her collections of poems and will be available for discussion afterwards. Local poets, whether published or not, are invited to join in with readings of their own work too. For further details, please contact the gallery by telephone: 01834 843375 or e mail [email protected]">[email protected]
