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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'A haunting visit to the International Museum of Slavery, in Liverpool, England. A feisty young black girl pushing back against authority. The joy and despair of single parenthood. A love-hate relationship with words.
'This collection brings the best of a decade-long international poetry career to the page.' (Publication summary)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Large print.
Works about this Work
-
From Wembley : Maxine Beneba Clarke’s Carrying the World
2018
single work
essay
— Appears in: Journal of Poetics Research , March no. 8 2018;'In Poetics for ‘Australia’, I have been writing back to poetry and the nation. ‘Australia’ is a place I care about but am not convinced by, a place I want to see as a world of possibility. Although I seem to live ‘in’ it, I think of myself as living in my body most of all, even though, at present, I live on Noongar land and know that I was born and raised in Wembley, which informs part of my locatedness in a way that Bunyah informs Les Murray or Fitzroy informs Pi O.' (Introduction)
-
Review Short : Maxine Beneba Clarke’s Carrying the World
2017
single work
essay
review
— Appears in: Cordite Poetry Review , 1 February no. 57 2017; 'At the launch of Carrying the World, Maxine Beneba Clarke shared the mic with spoken word performers who were part of her decade long journey in poetry. The poignancy of Clarke’s gesture demonstrates how embedded she is in a literary community that erases the distinction between ‘high art’ (page) poetry and the spoken word.' (Introduction) -
'Trauma on My Skin' : Racism as a Force, Writing as a Response
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , October no. 385 2016; (p. 26-27)
— Review of The Hate Race : A Memoir 2016 single work autobiography ; Carrying the World 2016 selected work poetry 'cross two new titles, Maxine Beneba Clarke offers an unflinching portrayal of the impact of racism, and transcends form in turning a lens on Australian society. Together, these two works witness the myriad ways in which racism shapes the daily life of its victims, the ongoing impact and the toll on body and mind. We see this damage play out in each work, both in psychological terms and, as she describes in her memoir, physically. 'For most of my school life,' she writes, 'trauma manifested itself on my skin.' Her writing is blunt, uncompromising. Both works utilise repetition to enormous effect, layering instances of prejudice and returning again and again to specific moments of trauma. While the approach in writing differs radically across the two texts, they share stories to create something much larger between them.' (Introduction)
-
'Trauma on My Skin' : Racism as a Force, Writing as a Response
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , October no. 385 2016; (p. 26-27)
— Review of The Hate Race : A Memoir 2016 single work autobiography ; Carrying the World 2016 selected work poetry 'cross two new titles, Maxine Beneba Clarke offers an unflinching portrayal of the impact of racism, and transcends form in turning a lens on Australian society. Together, these two works witness the myriad ways in which racism shapes the daily life of its victims, the ongoing impact and the toll on body and mind. We see this damage play out in each work, both in psychological terms and, as she describes in her memoir, physically. 'For most of my school life,' she writes, 'trauma manifested itself on my skin.' Her writing is blunt, uncompromising. Both works utilise repetition to enormous effect, layering instances of prejudice and returning again and again to specific moments of trauma. While the approach in writing differs radically across the two texts, they share stories to create something much larger between them.' (Introduction) -
Review Short : Maxine Beneba Clarke’s Carrying the World
2017
single work
essay
review
— Appears in: Cordite Poetry Review , 1 February no. 57 2017; 'At the launch of Carrying the World, Maxine Beneba Clarke shared the mic with spoken word performers who were part of her decade long journey in poetry. The poignancy of Clarke’s gesture demonstrates how embedded she is in a literary community that erases the distinction between ‘high art’ (page) poetry and the spoken word.' (Introduction) -
From Wembley : Maxine Beneba Clarke’s Carrying the World
2018
single work
essay
— Appears in: Journal of Poetics Research , March no. 8 2018;'In Poetics for ‘Australia’, I have been writing back to poetry and the nation. ‘Australia’ is a place I care about but am not convinced by, a place I want to see as a world of possibility. Although I seem to live ‘in’ it, I think of myself as living in my body most of all, even though, at present, I live on Noongar land and know that I was born and raised in Wembley, which informs part of my locatedness in a way that Bunyah informs Les Murray or Fitzroy informs Pi O.' (Introduction)
Awards
- 2017 shortlisted Colin Roderick Award
- 2017 winner Victorian Premier's Literary Awards — Prize for Poetry
