telegrams tremble like leaves from a wintering tree and the spider grief swings in his bitter geometry – they’re bringing them home, now, too late, too early. (from "Homecoming" by Bruce Dawe) Last night I was lucky enough to attend a private function at which a small, local, male a capella group, the Pocket Score … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Contemporary poetry and music
Poetry
Delicious descriptions from Down Under: Adrienne Eberhard on stones
Having just returned from Japan where stones are revered, I thought it might be apposite to share one of the poems from Adrienne Eberhard's section "The Magic of Stones" in her suite of poems about Jane, Lady Franklin. Blocky, grain-growing, cast in the stance of a thousand others Embedded, spore-emblazoned, lying in layers of limb-lost … Continue reading Delicious descriptions from Down Under: Adrienne Eberhard on stones
On the literary (and linguistic) road in Japan: 3, Matsue and beyond
This will be my last post on our Japanese adventures (unless something specific inspires me to write again - always leave yourself an out is my motto) and I'm going to share a few particular experiences, so here goes. Matsue and Lafcadio Hearn Our prime reason for going to Matsue was to visit the Adachi Museum … Continue reading On the literary (and linguistic) road in Japan: 3, Matsue and beyond
Monday musings on Australian literature: Japan and Australia
I had another post partly drafted for today but, due to the events of last week in Japan, I've decided to postpone that idea for another time. Australia (and we are not the only country in this) has a close relationship with Japan - much of it positive, some of it negative (this latter to do … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Japan and Australia
Monday musings on Australian literature: A dry or not so dry continent?
It's rather ironic that in the last week or two when I've written a couple of posts about Australia's image* as a "sunburned land" (Barbara Hanrahan) or "sunburnt country" (Dorothea Mackellar), the image the world has been seeing is somewhat opposite - a raindrenched land. Then again, Dorothea Mackellar did also write that this is … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: A dry or not so dry continent?
The gift of words
Middle age has come and all the plans and needs are chaff not seeds, blowing down the blue air to fall flat and trampled by some window where a hopeful girl braids her thick hair and hums. ("Humble", by Ginny Jackson) Better late than ... hmm, perhaps not, but I'm going to tell you anyhow. … Continue reading The gift of words
Monday musings on Australian literature: For the love of ballads
I was first introduced to Australian ballads by my father who loved to read the works of AB (Banjo) Paterson to us. I loved it - my father's reading and the poems themselves. This love was reinforced in my first year of high school, through my poetry textbook, The call of the gums: An anthology of … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: For the love of ballads
Ah, sweet synchronicity of life!
Ok, I know that "synchronicity" doesn't really scan with "mystery" but it just felt right. Last night, wearing one of my hats, I attended the National Film and Sound Archive's event, Coo-ee: Sound Day: Sounds of Australia 2010. (Phew, that's a mouthful isn't it?). Sounds of Australia is an NFSA initiative aimed at creating a … Continue reading Ah, sweet synchronicity of life!
Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous writers
It's important I think that my third post be on our indigenous writers. Again it's going to be pretty idiosyncratic as my reading in this area has been scattered, not for lack of interest so much as the old "so many books" issue that we all know only too well. I was first introduced to … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Indigenous writers
Edward Field, WWII (Poem)
Well, Library of America has surprised again. This week it is a poem (6 pages). I wasn't expecting that, but as I like to delve into poetry every now and then I was rather pleased. The poem, "WWII" by Edward Field, was first published in 1967 in a collection titled Poets of World War II. … Continue reading Edward Field, WWII (Poem)
Whispering Gums 