Fearless young poet reads in Whanganui

Young poet Hera Lindsay Bird has caused a stir -- and she performs in Whanganui on Thursday.

New Zealand's most sought after young poet reads her work in Whanganui on Thursday evening.

She is Hera Lindsay Bird, whose first book of poems, of the same name, was published by Victoria University Press in July.

She's been variously called fearless, nihilistic, sexy and offensive - a quick trawl through the internet reveals.

She's coming to Whanganui to visit her mother, Vivien Lindsay, and has agreed to give a reading at Paige's Book Gallery at 5.30pm on Thursday.

Her book has just 21 poems, written over four years. But they pack a punch.

She has said they are very personal, "kind of raunchy" and include some sex jokes.

The launch in Wellington was huge, everyone is rushing to review the book and it is being reprinted already.

The poet has an MA degree in poetry and, like Eleanor Catton, is a winner of the Adam Foundation Prize.

This first BYO Whanganui event is a spur-of-the-moment idea. A longer opportunity to listen to her is promised for the future.