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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'Award-winning poet, critic, editor and academic Sarah Holland-Batt takes the helm again as editor of this year’s Best Australian Poems. ' (Publication summary)
Contents
- In Memoriam, JB, single work poetry (p. 1-2)
- Winter, Hospital Bedi"Memory was the room I entered down a long corridor", single work poetry (p. 3)
- Cobalti"Co–nclusion: following find in 1982 by local sponge diver Mehmed Çakir & 11", single work poetry (p. 4)
- Gypsy, single work poetry (p. 5)
- Reunion Songi"Every time she saw herself in the mirror, I remember, she pushed", single work poetry (p. 6)
- Flying Foxes, Wingham Brushi"Some of the bats are elbowing their way", single work poetry (p. 7-8)
- The Grey Parroti"The far city must make itself known", single work poetry (p. 9)
- Time Is a River, Time Is a Bridgei"Time is a river that passes through you, crossing and recrossing, rippling score", single work poetry (p. 10-12)
- Reach & Ambitioni"Late at night, up, looking at", single work poetry (p. 13-19)
- Eleutheriai"Water spirit of small bowls", single work poetry (p. 20)
- Forty-one Degreesi"Almost summer, season of hot dry winds.", single work poetry (p. 21)
- The Shower Stalli"Wisdom does not follow conquest, although", single work poetry (p. 22-23)
- The Night Comingi"I was thinking it was cold, the heater", single work poetry (p. 24)
- Soft Targetsi"the miracle pill", single work poetry (p. 25-27)
- Compensationi"excitement a refised", single work poetry (p. 28)
- Minor Domestici"Jacarandas luxuriate", single work poetry (p. 29)
- C'est L'Hommei"you", single work poetry (p. 30-31)
- Another Step Awayi"a fix of toby’s estate coffee on the footpath.", single work poetry (p. 32-33)
- Kumerai"Wrap whole sweet potatoes,", single work poetry (p. 34)
- Two Womeni"Believe nothing she says. Provide her with a warm coat.", single work poetry (p. 35)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
Redemption
i
"Noel is thinking of hurling a brick. This time, through the front window of",
2018
single work
poetry
— Appears in: Otoliths , 1 November no. 51 2018; -
Temenos
2017
single work
essay
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , December no. 397 2017; (p. 58)
— Review of The Best Australian Poems 2017 2017 anthology poetry'When W.H. Auden took the cue for his poem ‘Musée des Beaux Arts’ from Brueghel’s Fall of Icarus, he did not presume the reader’s knowledge of the iconography of the painting but rather sprang open its central and universal theme, which touches all our lives: how ‘dreadful martyrdom must run its course’. It is easy to think our lurid times are perhaps unsuited to such universalities, given the way we loudly chart even the smallest martyrdom, or indulge the biggest Trump on any manner of forums without ever feeling the need to properly situate the subject within a unifying longue durée. The cultural seeds of Trumpism may be found in most real estate offices, just as they are in Aeschylus and Dan Brown. But who cares about that? When it comes to capturing hearts and minds, umbrage and outrage are as much subject to the traction of demand and supply as anything else. At present, there are more poets writing in this country alone than there are footballers kicking goals at the highest level or politicians compromising the healthy future of our children’s climate. But where are the crowds, where is the hysteria, and the press conferences? Thankfully, not here. Like the ploughman ignoring Icarus falling into the sea in Brueghel’s painting, the workaday world and its directional spotlight will always carry on as if nothing has happened in the poetry world.' (Introduction)
-
Temenos
2017
single work
essay
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , December no. 397 2017; (p. 58)
— Review of The Best Australian Poems 2017 2017 anthology poetry'When W.H. Auden took the cue for his poem ‘Musée des Beaux Arts’ from Brueghel’s Fall of Icarus, he did not presume the reader’s knowledge of the iconography of the painting but rather sprang open its central and universal theme, which touches all our lives: how ‘dreadful martyrdom must run its course’. It is easy to think our lurid times are perhaps unsuited to such universalities, given the way we loudly chart even the smallest martyrdom, or indulge the biggest Trump on any manner of forums without ever feeling the need to properly situate the subject within a unifying longue durée. The cultural seeds of Trumpism may be found in most real estate offices, just as they are in Aeschylus and Dan Brown. But who cares about that? When it comes to capturing hearts and minds, umbrage and outrage are as much subject to the traction of demand and supply as anything else. At present, there are more poets writing in this country alone than there are footballers kicking goals at the highest level or politicians compromising the healthy future of our children’s climate. But where are the crowds, where is the hysteria, and the press conferences? Thankfully, not here. Like the ploughman ignoring Icarus falling into the sea in Brueghel’s painting, the workaday world and its directional spotlight will always carry on as if nothing has happened in the poetry world.' (Introduction)
-
Redemption
i
"Noel is thinking of hurling a brick. This time, through the front window of",
2018
single work
poetry
— Appears in: Otoliths , 1 November no. 51 2018;
Awards
- 2018 shortlisted Mascara Avant-garde Awards — Anthology