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y separately published work icon The Ancient Capital of Images selected work   poetry  
Issue Details: First known date: 2005... 2005 The Ancient Capital of Images
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Notes

  • Epigraph: I am the sole witness to my homecoming. (Christopher Okigbo)

Contents

* Contents derived from the Fremantle, Fremantle area, South West Perth, Perth, Western Australia,:Fremantle Press , 2005 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
The Kramat of Tuan Gurui"Few visit here. The floor is dusty, the gate unlocked.", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 6)
Uit Mantra, John Mateer , sequence poetry (p. 6-8)
Thoughts of Tatamkhulu Afrikai"Climbing Bo-Kaap's cobbled streets,", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 7)
My Friend Sharifai"The couple in the car glared at us momentarily caught in their thought -", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 8)
A Streetkidi"The child's skull rests on his arm on the doorstep,", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 9)
My Name Is Also Johni"Days before he would say, 'My name is also John - Hone in Maoritanga,'", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 10)
The Poeti"The poet, a new South African, holds his fist out to me.", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 11)
Ethekweni, John Mateer , sequence poetry (p. 11-14)
The Prostitutei"The woman is sitting in the doorway half in the sun.", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 12)
The Touristi"They have their hands in his pockets and around his neck.", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 13)
The Worshippersi"They're up from the beach, are dancing at the bus-stop.", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 14)
In the Valley of a Thousand Hillsi"Valley of a thousand hills, green as the afterimage of blood!", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 15)
Going Home on the Bus from Pretoria to Kwandebele, 3 January 1984i"The shadows, railings at their backs, nodding off in the bus' flickering dimness", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 16)
An Empty Flati"My father's last years were spent here in this flat in this Afrikaner suburb.", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 17)
On the Minesi"The Boss Boy -- if that's what he's called nowadays, post-Mandela --", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 18)
Keysi"Rattle those keys, the whole bossie, and hear", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 19)
Razor-Wirei"And that razor-wire, more than doringdraad", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 19)
Chainsi"Let those chains be a memorial to heavy industry and the zoo", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 19)
Electric Fencesi"On summer afternoons lightning used to hunt down thatched houses,", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 19)
Artefacts Found On the Highveld, John Mateer , sequence poetry (p. 19-20)
Note: With title: Five Artefacts Found On the Highveld

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Fremantle, Fremantle area, South West Perth, Perth, Western Australia,: Fremantle Press , 2005 .
      image of person or book cover 4995708406457620375.jpg
      Image courtesy of publisher's website.
      Extent: 61p.
      Note/s:
      • Cover image: Crown Chakra, June 30 1996, Sabbath Day Lake, Shaker Village, Maine USA.Courtesy of the artist and the photographer Adam Fuss.
      ISBN: 1920731695
Alternative title: イメジの古都
Transliterated title: Imeji no koto
Language: Japanese
      Kyoto, Honshu,
      c
      Japan,
      c
      East Asia, South and East Asia, Asia,
      :
      ca. 2006-2009 .
      Extent: 39p.p.

Works about this Work

y separately published work icon Literary Migrations : White, English-Speaking Migrant Writers in Australia Ingeborg van Teeseling , Wollongong : 2011 Z1860612 2011 single work thesis 'In this thesis, I am arguing that [a] false core/periphery binary has made a particular group of migrants ,-those who are white and have migrated from English-speaking countries - invisible - invisible as migrants, that is. For the writers within this group, this leads to a critical blindness in relation to their work and place within Australian national literature. As a critic, however, I look at the work of Ruth Park, Alex Miller and John Mateer and see it is profoundly influenced by their migrant experience. More often than not they write about themes that are typical of migrant writing: alienation, identity, belonging, home, being in-between cultures, history. For a more appropriate, complete appreciation of their work, this thesis argues that it is imperative to go back to the beginning and return the 'default setting' of migrant to its literal meaning.' [From the author's abstract]
New Poetry, 2005-2006 Megan McKinlay , 2006 single work review
— Appears in: Westerly , November vol. 51 no. 2006; (p. 60-73)
Argues for the importance of first impressions in reading and appreciating poems.
Poetry Survey Simon Patton , 2006 single work review
— Appears in: Island , Spring no. 106 2006; (p. 46-49)

— Review of Silently on the Tide P. R. Hay , 2005 selected work poetry ; On Reflection, or, A Twenty-Twenty Vision : A Novelty David Musgrave , 2005 selected work poetry prose ; High Wire Adrian Caesar , 2005 selected work poetry ; Glassmaker Shane McCauley , 2005 selected work poetry ; James Stinks (and So Does Chuck) Nick Riemer , 2005 selected work poetry ; The Ancient Capital of Images John Mateer , 2005 selected work poetry
The Global South, The Deepest North Nicholas Birns , 2006 single work review
— Appears in: Antipodes , June vol. 20 no. 1 2006; (p. 95-96)

— Review of The Ancient Capital of Images John Mateer , 2005 selected work poetry
City Limits Oliver Dennis , 2006 single work review
— Appears in: Meanjin , vol. 65 no. 2 2006; (p. 87-91)

— Review of Avenues and Runways Aidan Coleman , 2005 selected work poetry ; Broken/Open Jill Jones , 2005 selected work poetry ; The Ancient Capital of Images John Mateer , 2005 selected work poetry
Place and Prejudice Michael Sariban , 2005 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , November no. 276 2005; (p. 59)

— Review of The Yellow Dress Yve Louis , 2005 selected work poetry ; The Ancient Capital of Images John Mateer , 2005 selected work poetry
Artistry in Motion Barry Hill , 2006 single work review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 4-5 February 2006; (p. 10)

— Review of Fragmenta Nova Alan Loney , 2005 selected work poetry ; The Ancient Capital of Images John Mateer , 2005 selected work poetry
Untitled Tim Wright , 2006 single work review
— Appears in: Five Bells , Summer vol. 13 no. 1 2006; (p. 45-46)

— Review of The Ancient Capital of Images John Mateer , 2005 selected work poetry
Untitled Andrew Johnson , 2006 single work review
— Appears in: API Review of Books , April no. 42 2006;

— Review of The Ancient Capital of Images John Mateer , 2005 selected work poetry
Poetic Balancing Acts Lisa Gorton , 2006 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 3 June 2006; (p. 22)

— Review of High Wire Adrian Caesar , 2005 selected work poetry ; The Ancient Capital of Images John Mateer , 2005 selected work poetry ; Necessary Evil : Poems Craig Sherborne , 2006 selected work poetry
New Poetry, 2005-2006 Megan McKinlay , 2006 single work review
— Appears in: Westerly , November vol. 51 no. 2006; (p. 60-73)
Argues for the importance of first impressions in reading and appreciating poems.
y separately published work icon Literary Migrations : White, English-Speaking Migrant Writers in Australia Ingeborg van Teeseling , Wollongong : 2011 Z1860612 2011 single work thesis 'In this thesis, I am arguing that [a] false core/periphery binary has made a particular group of migrants ,-those who are white and have migrated from English-speaking countries - invisible - invisible as migrants, that is. For the writers within this group, this leads to a critical blindness in relation to their work and place within Australian national literature. As a critic, however, I look at the work of Ruth Park, Alex Miller and John Mateer and see it is profoundly influenced by their migrant experience. More often than not they write about themes that are typical of migrant writing: alienation, identity, belonging, home, being in-between cultures, history. For a more appropriate, complete appreciation of their work, this thesis argues that it is imperative to go back to the beginning and return the 'default setting' of migrant to its literal meaning.' [From the author's abstract]
Last amended 14 Nov 2019 14:04:16
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