Withered Rose

Withered Rose is a poetry collection by Liesel Kippen that moves through a wide emotional range, from sorrow, helplessness and loss to healing, growth and happiness. Nature runs through the whole book, and Kippen draws on the Australian landscape and the many gifts it offers.

The poems follow the process of change: getting through hardship, finding strength again, and moving forward with confidence. The collection presents personal transformation as a choice that is always open to us, and it encourages readers to make a difference, add meaning to their lives and have a positive effect on the world around them. Its verses are written to speak to readers of all ages.

Kippen's images are forceful and her descriptions vivid, and illustrations accompany the text to convey the character of the natural world. The poems use both free verse and traditional rhyme. Throughout, Kippen shows her love of writing and her enthusiasm for life, with particular attention to the hidden beauty of nature and the way people relate to it.