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'Kevin Gilbert was widely respected as Aboriginal Australia's most prominent poet and most powerful spokesman before his much-lamented death early in 1993. This moving and stirring collection of poetry represents the last complete work he passed for publication prior to his death. Direct, Passionate, Humane and full of keen wit, Gilbert's verse appeals across racial and ideological boundaries to the noble soul within us all. As well as poems that plea for a greater understanding of the plight of Aboriginal Australia, Black from the Edge contains poems that reveal another side of this inspirational man; a pensive, candid genius attempting to achieve a quietus in the last years of his extraordinary life.' (Source: Goodreads website)
Contents
- Home Centrei"Our great culture was being lost", single work poetry (p. 8)
- Genocidei"I smell the smoke", single work poetry (p. 10)
- On the Road to Queanbeyani"I look at the open fields and see", single work poetry (p. 10)
- Memorialsi"Our history is carved", single work poetry (p. 12)
- Pastoral Pioneersi"There were four of us in the gunyah then", single work poetry (p. 14)
- Blackfellow's Leapi"And they threw down their spear", single work poetry (p. 16)
- Ancestors and Demonstratorsi"Where have you gone", single work poetry (p. 18)
- Choice is Yoursi"In kingdoms where injustice reigns", single work poetry (p. 20)
- Land Claimsi"The song of the inland river", single work poetry (p. 20)
- Keepi"It's a newer type of weapon", single work poetry (p. 22)
- Year of the Black Childi"We cry", single work poetry (p. 24)
- International Year of the Childi"Australians just love breaking records", single work poetry (p. 24)
- What Will We Do with the `Natives'?i"Tuck them Blacks", single work poetry (p. 26)
- Notice to Territory Touristsi"To you who walk amidst", single work poetry (p. 26)
- Sun-Tan Lotioni"Why do you sneer", single work poetry (p. 28)
- Winter Camp: Aboriginal Tent Embassyi"We see them", single work poetry (p. 30)
- Shades of Greyi"I'm Black and I'm proud", single work poetry (p. 30)
- Song of Dreamtimei"With our didgeridoos", single work poetry (p. 32)
- Until You Learni"I cannot bring you home again", single work poetry (p. 34)
- The New True Anthemi"Despite what Dorothea has said", single work poetry (p. 36)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
Writing Their Own History : 'Aboriginal Australia' in the Poetry of Jack Davis and Kevin Gilbert
2012
single work
criticism
— Appears in: IJAS , no. 5 2012; (p. 84-97) This paper : focuses on the history emerging out of the poems of these two writers Davis and Gilbert in the context of New Historical perspective.' (85) -
Feeding Off the Anger: A Response to Aboriginal Poetry
1996
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Meridian , May vol. 15 no. 1 1996; (p. 59-75) -
'Black from The Edge' Launch at NSW Library
1994
single work
column
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 9 February no. 69 1994; (p. 17) 'The late Kevin Gilbert's collection of poems Black from The Edge ... was launched on January 25 at the State Library of New South Wales'. -
Gilbert's Final Offering
1994
single work
review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 26 January no. 68 1994; (p. 19)
— Review of Black from the Edge 1994 selected work poetry 'This moving and stirring collection of poetry represents the last complete work be passed for publication prior to Kevin Gilbert's death.' -
Poetry as History, Craft and Revolution
1994
single work
review
— Appears in: Overland , Summer no. 137 1994; (p. 70-71)
— Review of Black from the Edge 1994 selected work poetry ; The Blackside: People are Legends and Other Poems 1990 selected work poetry ; The Difficult Island 1994 selected work poetry ; Shadows of Utopia 1994 single work poetry
-
Gilbert's Final Offering
1994
single work
review
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 26 January no. 68 1994; (p. 19)
— Review of Black from the Edge 1994 selected work poetry 'This moving and stirring collection of poetry represents the last complete work be passed for publication prior to Kevin Gilbert's death.' -
Forecasts
1993
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Bookseller & Publisher , November-December vol. 73 no. 1043 1993; (p. 37)
— Review of Black from the Edge 1994 selected work poetry -
Bitter-Sweet Celebrations
1994
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 29 January 1994; (p. 10A)
— Review of Black from the Edge 1994 selected work poetry ; You Have the Power 1994 selected work poetry ; The Sad Anthropologist 1993 selected work poetry -
Poems a Tribute to Kevin Gilbert
1994
single work
review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 23 April 1994; (p. C10)
— Review of Black from the Edge 1994 selected work poetry'Black for the Edge is a very handsomely produced book and a suitable tribute to the late Kevin Gilbert's activism on be-half of his people. ...'
-
Gilbert's Last Words
1994
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 21 May 1994; (p. 8)
— Review of Black from the Edge 1994 selected work poetry -
'Black from The Edge' Launch at NSW Library
1994
single work
column
— Appears in: Koori Mail , 9 February no. 69 1994; (p. 17) 'The late Kevin Gilbert's collection of poems Black from The Edge ... was launched on January 25 at the State Library of New South Wales'. -
Feeding Off the Anger: A Response to Aboriginal Poetry
1996
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Meridian , May vol. 15 no. 1 1996; (p. 59-75) -
Writing Their Own History : 'Aboriginal Australia' in the Poetry of Jack Davis and Kevin Gilbert
2012
single work
criticism
— Appears in: IJAS , no. 5 2012; (p. 84-97) This paper : focuses on the history emerging out of the poems of these two writers Davis and Gilbert in the context of New Historical perspective.' (85)
Awards
- Aboriginal Australians
- Aboriginal dispossession
- Landscape & identity
- Aboriginal literature - Portrayal of White culture
- Aboriginal relationship with the land
- Australian culture
- Aboriginal massacres, murders, poisonings
- Bush
- Unity with nature
- Environmental destruction
- Aboriginal-White relations
- Reconciliation
- Love
- Domestic life
- Aboriginal land rights & native title