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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'Peter Gebhardt's poems lie at the controversial intersection of poetry, history, politics and spirituality. They confront issues of invasion and dispossession, of brutality and genocide, that underlie relations between white and indigenous Australians over the last two hundred years.
'Part advocate, part poet—what Torres Strait Islanders call a 'speech fighter'—Peter Gebhardt graphically 'names the shame' in poems that pit the oral tradition of indigenous Australians against those who deny the ugliness of colonisation. Disturbing images of death, massacre and murder, in an ancient land of stark beauty, challenge the reader to confront and recognise what Aboriginal leader Pat Dodson in his foreword calls the story of dispossession, disaster and despair that engulfed indigenous communities.
'Peter Gebhardt's poems are introduced by a discussion between the poet and the distinguished author and educator Bernard Smith, whose 1980 Boyer Lectures The Spectre of Truganini challenged historians to grapple with the ugliness of white colonisation, hitherto documented only by poets, novelists, filmmakers and painters. Together poet and author explore the historical events underlying.the poems, the issues the poems themselves raise and their resonance in the poet's personal experience.
'As Professor Donald Markwell observes in his afterword, Peter Gebhardt's poems show us again the 'moral edge' of the arts and their power to stir our minds, memories and social conscience. Only by confronting the past can white and indigenous Australians forge a better future. Their stories, our history is one poet's response to the process of Reconciliation.' (Publication summary)
Notes
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Dedication: To Paul Collis (It's hard being black, mate') and to William Deane who kept the historical conscience alive.
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Dedication: In memory of our ancestors who were shot and burnt here. R.I.P. Mistake Creek. (Back cover).
Contents
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Prologue,
Clare Pullar
(interviewer),
single work
interview
'This conversation between Peter Gebhardt and Bernard Smith was recorded at Trinity College at The University of Melbourne, Friday 17 August 2001 after lunch and a nice glass of red. It was moderated and introduced by Clare Pullar.'
- Naming Day, January 26th 1788i"With a volley of words.", single work poetry (p. 37)
- No Apologyi"It's hard to cry for others,", single work poetry (p. 38)
- Terra Nulliusi"'Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again,'", single work poetry (p. 39)
- Manacle Cave, Great Keppel Islandi"Chained on the rocks.", single work poetry (p. 40-41)
- The Orphanagei"Old photographs line the walls :", single work poetry (p. 42)
- Leave Her for the Dingoes. . .'i"'Don't waste another shot'", single work poetry (p. 43)
- Man in a Landscapei"It's a different geography", single work poetry (p. 47)
- 'I Grew up Running'i"I grew up running", single work poetry (p. 48)
- Butter Patsi"The separator had shut down into silvered silence:", single work poetry (p. 49)
- Protector Robinson Reportsi"Mapped with an ancient metaphysic,", single work poetry (p. 50)
- Lake Victoriai"The bones and stones chatter in banter,", single work poetry (p. 51)
- Exchangei"Why is a clock on the sand-blown shore?", single work poetry (p. 54)
- Protectoratei"We acted as hosts:", single work poetry (p. 57)
- The Flood : Bourkei"That year there was a burial", single work poetry (p. 58)
- Wateri"Stockyard Creek, Faithfull's Creek", single work poetry (p. 59)
- Two Paintingsi"It's and unfinished tapestry,", single work poetry (p. 62)
- Bay of Martyrsi"The bones are singing ing the sands,", single work poetry (p. 65)
- The Blue Water Lilyi"After the rains", single work poetry (p. 66)
- Cedar Chesti"Rocks and rivers", single work poetry (p. 67)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
Prologue
Clare Pullar
(interviewer),
2003
single work
interview
— Appears in: Their Stories, Our History : Poems 2003; (p. 15-35) 'This conversation between Peter Gebhardt and Bernard Smith was recorded at Trinity College at The University of Melbourne, Friday 17 August 2001 after lunch and a nice glass of red. It was moderated and introduced by Clare Pullar.' -
A Poet's Appeal to His Unhearing Countrymen
2003
single work
biography
— Appears in: The Age , 2 June 2003; (p. 2) -
Untitled
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: Eureka Street , July-August vol. 13 no. 6 2003; (p. 21)
— Review of Their Stories, Our History : Poems 2003 selected work poetry interview
-
Untitled
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: Eureka Street , July-August vol. 13 no. 6 2003; (p. 21)
— Review of Their Stories, Our History : Poems 2003 selected work poetry interview -
A Poet's Appeal to His Unhearing Countrymen
2003
single work
biography
— Appears in: The Age , 2 June 2003; (p. 2) -
Prologue
Clare Pullar
(interviewer),
2003
single work
interview
— Appears in: Their Stories, Our History : Poems 2003; (p. 15-35) 'This conversation between Peter Gebhardt and Bernard Smith was recorded at Trinity College at The University of Melbourne, Friday 17 August 2001 after lunch and a nice glass of red. It was moderated and introduced by Clare Pullar.'