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y separately published work icon The Abbotsford Mysteries selected work   poetry  
Issue Details: First known date: 2011... 2011 The Abbotsford Mysteries
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'When her mother died Patricia Sykes and her sisters were taken to the Good Shepherd Catholic orphanage in Abbotsford. The year was 1952 and their father had no choice but to send his four little girls away ... Patricia Sykes has found that many memories and mysteries have stayed with her. In her collection of poems, The Abbotsford Mysteries, Sykes relives the experience of growing up in an orphanage in postwar Melbourne.

Sykes interviewed 70 women across Australia who lived there. "I put an advertisement in the paper and I was just bombarded with responses," she says. Sykes did not expect the overwhelming response and was delighted when women and their families travelled to Abbotsford to share their stories. "It's a privilege to share the life experiences of so many other women and for them to trust me," she says. "I hope I honoured our experience. My poems cover a period of 60 years so I'm very fortunate that so many women came forward."

The Abbotsford Mysteries weaves the voices of those women into poems with themes of loss and celebration, with religious symbolism playing a major role' (Melbourne Times Weekly 28 June 2012) .

Notes

  • Dedication: For my sisters Elaine, Anni and Robyn (deceased), and the 'Abbotsford 'girls'

Contents

* Contents derived from the North Melbourne, Flemington - North Melbourne area, Melbourne - North, Melbourne, Victoria,:Spinifex Press , 2011 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Rosarium, Patricia Sykes , sequence poetry (p. 1-13)
Death's Dream Kingdomi"A sudden as that. A breath taken. Then not.", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 3)
Mutter Songi"You're going and that's that! to live", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 4)
Onusi"Thirteen a tricky number thirteen months", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 5)
There Will Be a Girl Whoi"The vertigo of fright has no hidey-hole", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 6)
This Viper Her Tonguei"Saying what it wants to say stinging", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 7)
Providencei"All for thee my Lord O my Jesus all for thee", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 8)
Panic Belli"O that bell that panic that every Sunday", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 9)
How Will You Know Who You Arei"If you are unremembered, anonymous", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 10)
Gamblei"O parent of the rod and the threat (if", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 11)
Creedi"I believe I believe in Skipping Girl Vinegar my", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 12)
Gloriai"How many roses make a family?", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 13)
The Luminous, Patricia Sykes , sequence poetry (p. 15-17)
Rose, Roses, Rosaryi"Beginning with a great idea", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 17-18)
Miasmatai"Birrarung, river of mists and shadows", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 20)
Coilsi"As if women are rivers", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 20)
The Doori"It used to seem so big", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 21-22)
Iambic Pentameteri"I watch myself how I use my voice how", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 23)
Each Phantom Ache an Amputeei"In the whisper trenches", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 24-25)
All God's Servants Are Equali"but if-when the axe falls only one neck", Patricia Sykes , single work poetry (p. 26)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • North Melbourne, Flemington - North Melbourne area, Melbourne - North, Melbourne, Victoria,: Spinifex Press , 2011 .
      image of person or book cover 4512968195020652579.jpg
      This image has been sourced from online.
      Extent: 111p.
      Note/s:
      • Electronic Resource
      ISBN: 9781876756956 (pbk.), 9781742197678 (ebook)

Other Formats

  • Issued also in various ebook formats.

Works about this Work

Review Short : Patricia Sykes’ ‘The Abbotsford Mysteries’ Samuel Moginie , 2013 single work review
— Appears in: Cordite Poetry Review , 1 February no. 41 2013;

— Review of The Abbotsford Mysteries Patricia Sykes , 2011 selected work poetry
The Remembered, the Haunted, and the Differing : Patricia Sykes’ The Abbotsford Mysteries Robyn Cadwallader , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: Verity La , February 2012;

— Review of The Abbotsford Mysteries Patricia Sykes , 2011 selected work poetry
To Whinge or Not to Whinge Susan Hawthorne , 2012 single work essay
— Appears in: Rochford Street Review , May-July no. 4 2012;
Structure, Technique and Passion Mark Roberts , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: Rochford Street Review , March-April no. 3 2012;

— Review of The Abbotsford Mysteries Patricia Sykes , 2011 selected work poetry
A Sense of Embattlement Geoff Page , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 11 February 2012; (p. 26)

— Review of Armour John Kinsella , 2011 selected work poetry ; The Abbotsford Mysteries Patricia Sykes , 2011 selected work poetry
A Sense of Embattlement Geoff Page , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 11 February 2012; (p. 26)

— Review of Armour John Kinsella , 2011 selected work poetry ; The Abbotsford Mysteries Patricia Sykes , 2011 selected work poetry
Review Short : Patricia Sykes’ ‘The Abbotsford Mysteries’ Samuel Moginie , 2013 single work review
— Appears in: Cordite Poetry Review , 1 February no. 41 2013;

— Review of The Abbotsford Mysteries Patricia Sykes , 2011 selected work poetry
Structure, Technique and Passion Mark Roberts , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: Rochford Street Review , March-April no. 3 2012;

— Review of The Abbotsford Mysteries Patricia Sykes , 2011 selected work poetry
The Remembered, the Haunted, and the Differing : Patricia Sykes’ The Abbotsford Mysteries Robyn Cadwallader , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: Verity La , February 2012;

— Review of The Abbotsford Mysteries Patricia Sykes , 2011 selected work poetry
To Whinge or Not to Whinge Susan Hawthorne , 2012 single work essay
— Appears in: Rochford Street Review , May-July no. 4 2012;
Last amended 10 Feb 2021 13:51:34
Subjects:
  • Abbotsford, Fitzroy - Collingwood area, Melbourne - North, Melbourne, Victoria,
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