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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'The Ladder is Simon West’s third collection of poetry, and his first in four years. Many earlier preoccupations return—the natural environment, Italian art, the dimensions of place. There is a new focus on worldly and artistic responsibility, and a fascination with the ‘certain poise’ of ‘being in between’. At the collection’s heart are the building blocks of language, along with the more literal ones of Rome, where some of these poems were written during a residency at the Whiting studio in 2012.' (Publication summary)
Notes
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Dedication: for Anita
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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A Rung or Two Short of Epiphany.
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 6-7 February 2016; (p. 22)
— Review of The Ladder 2015 selected work poetry ; The Mad Poet's Tea Party 2016 selected work poetry ; Eating My Grandmother : A Grief Cycle 2015 selected work poetry -
Careful Clarities
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Antipodes , June vol. 30 no. 1 2016; (p. 235-236)
— Review of The Ladder 2015 selected work poetry'In the book's second poem, "Climbing the Tower of Babel," the poet talks us through his learning of the Italian language, echoing how "this isn't yours to call your own," and this, coming from a Caucasian poet in Australia, is perhaps a subtly intentional, pointed image; the point is that West is finding a way to talk within (and perhaps from beyond) a country of "death-tinged colors" (29): It was love that kept me going despite myself, that and the elusive charity of words.' (Publication abstract)
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Poetry as Cattle Prod : Five New Poetry Collections
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , December no. 377 2015; (p. 43-44)
— Review of The Law of Poetry 2015 selected work poetry ; The Hour of Silvered Mullet 2015 selected work poetry ; The Ladder 2015 selected work poetry ; Jam Sticky Vision 2015 selected work poetry ; Immune Systems 2015 selected work poetry -
Review Short : Simon West’s The Ladder
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: Cordite Poetry Review , 1 October no. 52.0 2015;
— Review of The Ladder 2015 selected work poetry -
Simon West : The Ladder
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Poetry Review , vol. 10 no. 2015;
— Review of The Ladder 2015 selected work poetry
-
Simon West : The Ladder
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Poetry Review , vol. 10 no. 2015;
— Review of The Ladder 2015 selected work poetry -
Review Short : Simon West’s The Ladder
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: Cordite Poetry Review , 1 October no. 52.0 2015;
— Review of The Ladder 2015 selected work poetry -
Poetry as Cattle Prod : Five New Poetry Collections
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , December no. 377 2015; (p. 43-44)
— Review of The Law of Poetry 2015 selected work poetry ; The Hour of Silvered Mullet 2015 selected work poetry ; The Ladder 2015 selected work poetry ; Jam Sticky Vision 2015 selected work poetry ; Immune Systems 2015 selected work poetry -
A Rung or Two Short of Epiphany.
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 6-7 February 2016; (p. 22)
— Review of The Ladder 2015 selected work poetry ; The Mad Poet's Tea Party 2016 selected work poetry ; Eating My Grandmother : A Grief Cycle 2015 selected work poetry -
Careful Clarities
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Antipodes , June vol. 30 no. 1 2016; (p. 235-236)
— Review of The Ladder 2015 selected work poetry'In the book's second poem, "Climbing the Tower of Babel," the poet talks us through his learning of the Italian language, echoing how "this isn't yours to call your own," and this, coming from a Caucasian poet in Australia, is perhaps a subtly intentional, pointed image; the point is that West is finding a way to talk within (and perhaps from beyond) a country of "death-tinged colors" (29): It was love that kept me going despite myself, that and the elusive charity of words.' (Publication abstract)
Awards
- 2016 shortlisted Prime Minister's Literary Awards — Poetry
