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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
A collection of poems about natural beauty, the Australian environment and the mystical or divine therein. Published when she was 13 years old, this collection demonstrates the poetic imaginary of Gwen Cope. Her neighbour, Norman Ellison (q.v.), writes in the foreword that she 'wrote poetry as easily and as naturally as the ordinary small girl made doll's clothes' (p. 5).
Contents
* Contents derived from the
Sydney,
New South Wales,:Angus and Robertson
, 1936 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
- Under the Joy of the Skyi"Barelegged, - with surf-coat afloating", single work poetry children's (p. 9)
- Bushlandi"I love the bush, the smoky smell of bush-logs slowly burning", single work poetry children's (p. 10)
- Lure of the Closing Dayi"When the glare of the day is over, and the dazzling brilliance fades", single work poetry children's (p. 11)
- Reveriei"Lazily at the close of the day, through mist-enshrouded trees and shadowy vales", single work poetry children's (p. 12)
- The Sunrisei"When the golden yellow sunlight comes creeping in at dawn", single work poetry children's (p. 12)
- Where Beauty Breathesi"Bathed in the glory of the latent noon", single work poetry children's (p. 14-16)
- A Thousand Rosesi"Every morning brings its thousand roses", single work poetry children's (p. 16)
- Kurrajongi"Oh Kurrajong! - Enchanted spot of beauty!", single work poetry children's (p. 17)
- Happinessi"Wandering through the bushland", single work poetry children's (p. 18)
- A Spring Songi"The glory of the sunrise", single work poetry children's (p. 19)
-
A Puppy's Song of Lifei"Is anyone sad in the world, I wonder?",
single work
poetry
children's
(p. 20-21)
Note: Postscript: "(After Ella Wheeler Wilcox.)" (q.v.)
-
The Picture : Sydney, Seen from Athol
The Picturei"A golden, glowing background",
single work
poetry
children's
(p. 21)
Note: Author's note: Sydney, seen from Athol.
- The Song That Words Can Singi"I love the haunting mystery of the shadows", single work poetry children's (p. 22)
- Miracle of Springi"I saw a tree, of all its glory shorn", single work poetry children's (p. 23)
- Spell of the Moonlit Cloudsi"Piled o'er the dome of the heavens, filmy, elusive, strange!", single work poetry children's (p. 24-25)
- The Haveni"When the strain of school is over, and no grind of homework looms", single work poetry children's (p. 26)
- Queenwoodi"I'll sing you a song of a school that belongs", single work poetry children's (p. 27)
- The Dawning Dayi"The tree-tops, green and shadowy", single work poetry children's (p. 29)
- 'Oh, Lovely Night'i"Oh 'witching hour of night", single work poetry children's (p. 30)
- Contentmenti"Oh green, green grass and rushing stream", single work poetry children's (p. 31)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
“She Flings her Elfin Dreams of Mystery” : The Child-Poet Gwen Cope in the Land of “Australian Faery,” 1931–1939
2013
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Bookbird , January vol. 51 no. 1 2013; (p. 21-30) 'Gwen Cope enjoyed a significant reputation as a gifted Australian child-poet throughout the 1930s. Nevertheless, her two collections remain unacknowledged in the history of Australian literature despite their popularity. This article situates Cope's fairy-poetry against the ideological backdrop defined by adult fairy-poets of the 1930s to reveal fundamental discords between the child-poet writing her vision of fairy-folklore and the canonical writers who aimed to re-conceptualize " faery-lore" in the interests of Australian national literature.' (Author's abstract) -
Christmas Books
1936
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 24 December no. 30882 1936; (p. 6)
— Review of When the Stars Look Down 1936 single work children's fiction ; Under the Joy of the Sky and Other Verses 1936 selected work poetry
-
Christmas Books
1936
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 24 December no. 30882 1936; (p. 6)
— Review of When the Stars Look Down 1936 single work children's fiction ; Under the Joy of the Sky and Other Verses 1936 selected work poetry -
“She Flings her Elfin Dreams of Mystery” : The Child-Poet Gwen Cope in the Land of “Australian Faery,” 1931–1939
2013
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Bookbird , January vol. 51 no. 1 2013; (p. 21-30) 'Gwen Cope enjoyed a significant reputation as a gifted Australian child-poet throughout the 1930s. Nevertheless, her two collections remain unacknowledged in the history of Australian literature despite their popularity. This article situates Cope's fairy-poetry against the ideological backdrop defined by adult fairy-poets of the 1930s to reveal fundamental discords between the child-poet writing her vision of fairy-folklore and the canonical writers who aimed to re-conceptualize " faery-lore" in the interests of Australian national literature.' (Author's abstract)
Last amended 23 Jul 2008 14:56:22
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