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Issue Details: First known date: 2005... 2005 Collected Poems
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Notes

  • Dedication: Dedicated to my family, Patty Cadiz, Tania and Lenin
    To Sr Janet Mead the Romero Community
    Especially to my friend John Palmer
  • 'Juan's latest Collected Poems is divided into three sections representing the three stages or major areas of concern in his life since arriving in Australia as a refugee from Chile in 1990. The poems are very personal. They talk about his battle to master a new language and a strange new way of living in the country that gave him sanctuary from the Pinochet regime. But always the collective, global experience of capitalist oppression and the resistance to it come to the fore. Juan's poetry is personal but not at all self-­absorbed or individualistic. It is unmistakeably socialist verse of the straight-talking variety.

    There are recollections of his time in detention at the hands of Pinochet's secret police and the tragedy of the coup on September 11, 1973. There are tributes to the Romero Community that does tireless work with the disadvantaged of Adelaide. There are outraged commentaries on developments like the detention of asylum seekers in concentration camps like Baxter. There's even a letter to Karl Marx about the relative lack of progress towards the new society foretold by the German philosopher/theoretician/activist. And, of course, there's recognition of the support and love of Juan's family who have shared his experiences in Australia.

    While the poems deal with problems of huge dimensions and the sense of frustration and isolation this realisation creates, the work is ultimately optimistic and a good read for those needing a boost in these dark days of high imperialism. ' Bob Briton 'Revolution and Roses'
    The Guardian (17 August 2005).

Contents

* Contents derived from the Parkville, Parkville - Carlton area, Melbourne - North, Melbourne, Victoria,:Five Islands Press , 2005 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Ojos de cárcel "I have an eye prisoner,=Tengo un ojo declarado reo," The Eyes of Prisoni"I have got an eye prisoner,", Juan Garrido Salgado , single work poetry (p. 11)
Note: English translation and the Spanish original on the one page.
Love is a Just Wari"Here=Aqui", Juan Garrido Salgado , Stephen Brock (translator) single work poetry (p. 12)
Acerca de las Telecomunicaciones Internacionales "The skeletons=Las osamentas" Concerning International Telecommunicationsi"The bones", Juan Garrido Salgado , Stephen Brock (translator) single work poetry (p. 13)
Sometimes I Dream About Fourth West Streeti"I have two ghosts that rise up from my feet=Tengo dos fantasmas que se levantan desde mis pies", Juan Garrido Salgado , Stephen Brock (translator) single work poetry (p. 14-15)
I Am Everyman (The Man Wounded by Who Knows Who)i"Your camera=Tu maquina fotografica", Juan Garrido Salgado , Stephen Brock (translator) single work poetry (p. 16-17)
Moves Towards Freedomi"Yesterday, Playing chess", Juan Garrido Salgado , single work poetry (p. 18-19)
The Prisoner on his Birthdayi"The 25th of November, 1986", Juan Garrido Salgado , single work poetry (p. 20)
Learning Englishi"We were naked in this land, without friends", Juan Garrido Salgado , single work poetry (p. 21)
The Dark has Taken Root on All Four Wallsi""The dark has taken root on all four walls"=Aferrado a este verso de Kevin Hart", Juan Garrido Salgado , Peter Boyle (translator) single work poetry (p. 22-25)
On a City Corneri"June 1990", Juan Garrido Salgado , single work poetry (p. 26)
I Look Like an Aboriginali"My citizenship is in my verse, but not yet on my official papers", Juan Garrido Salgado , single work poetry (p. 27)
Burt Avenuei"'I am the best poet in my street'=Soy el mejor poeta de mi calle, me digo", Juan Garrido Salgado , Stephen Brock (translator) single work poetry (p. 28-29)
Battle With Foreign Wordsi"I am a tree living in a city", Juan Garrido Salgado , single work poetry (p. 30)
The Condor Without the Andesi"Still I can't write perfectly this language", Juan Garrido Salgado , single work poetry (p. 31)
Journey From Death to our Revolutioni"We carry death in this, our journey", Juan Garrido Salgado , single work poetry (p. 35)
Monsenor Romero in Our Life : 24th March 1999i"Romero, I ask you", Juan Garrido Salgado , single work poetry (p. 36)
Life is a Gianti"I believe life is a giant", Juan Garrido Salgado , single work poetry (p. 37)
Our Soul is Herei"Our soul is here", Juan Garrido Salgado , single work poetry (p. 38)
The Light of Communityi"To emerge into the light of Community", Juan Garrido Salgado , single work poetry (p. 39)
Bread and Justicei"Our Life Together", Juan Garrido Salgado , single work poetry (p. 40)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Last amended 8 Oct 2007 10:33:01
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