A new poetry collection by Australian veteran and debut author Kathryn Carlisle is shedding light on the intersection of trauma, nature, and recovery. Released in time for Mental Health Awareness Month, Feathers and Flame: Poetry of Australian Landscapes and Personal Transformation offers a poignant exploration of emotional healing through the natural world.
Following nearly four decades of service in the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force, Carlisle turned to poetry as a means of navigating post-service life. Her debut book, published under ISBN 978-0228811718, draws on her experiences of solitude, observation, and reconnection with Australia’s vast landscapes to illuminate the hidden emotional struggles many veterans endure.
“Watching birds interact, walking bush trails, being still in nature. These simple moments brought me home to myself,” Carlisle said. “Through writing, I learned to breathe again.”
The collection was born in part through Carlisle’s involvement in the Australian Defence Force’s Arts for Recovery, Resilience, Teamwork and Skills (ARRTS) Program, which supports creative recovery for current and former service personnel through disciplines like art, writing, and music. Carlisle credits the program as instrumental in her journey toward emotional renewal.
Each poem in Feathers and Flame offers a meditative glimpse into Australia’s varied environments—from desert plains to coastal skies—and reflects themes of stillness, self-discovery, and resilience. Carlisle’s military background adds a layer of emotional gravity, while her lifelong bond with the natural world lends authenticity and reverence to her work.
Carlisle, who grew up traversing the country—sometimes living in a double-decker bus or caravan—now resides in the ACT, where she draws inspiration from the Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve. The reserve’s sweeping grasslands and native wildlife continue to shape her creative process and healing journey.
Feathers and Flame is available now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, and other major booksellers.
About the Author
Kathryn Carlisle is a poet and former member of the Australian Defence Force. Her work reflects a deep connection to the Australian landscape and a commitment to mental health advocacy, particularly for fellow veterans. Feathers and Flame is her first published collection.
