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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
In his second collection Mateer's work ranges through lyrics of sudden insight to long performative poems of grieving. A questioning of communication, despair and love in its various forms combine with memories, perception and present exxperiences, making for poems that engage daily life with an awareness of the philosophic and historic. Concentrating on Perth, Mateer's vision records the blurry worlds of private and public space, of common and individual solitude, while attempting their dissolution. His tone is usually insistent and his strenuous voice, like his use of vivid and often disturbing images, allows him to write with an urgency that is confronting and uncompromising. (From a preliminary page of the work).
Notes
-
Dedication: 'In memory of my father.`
-
Epigraph: When you do something, you should burn yourself completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself. Shunryu Suzuki.
Contents
* Contents derived from the
South Fremantle,
Fremantle area,
South West Perth,
Perth,
Western Australia,:Fremantle Press
, 1997 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
- Replyi"Don't tell me they're", single work poetry (p. 11)
- Touching / Wouldi"In my dream I", single work poetry (p. 12)
- As Zeroi"Words were zero when we could all", single work poetry (p. 13)
- A `White Australian Poet'i"I spoke to the famous poet", single work poetry (p. 14)
- The Dance of the Raini"O the dance of our Sister!", Eugene N. Marais , John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 15)
- Panegyrici"I dreamed,", single work poetry (p. 16)
- At Grant Street Staioni"The way he was speaking to her, not", single work poetry (p. 17)
- Her White Dressi"When the surveyor held her arms", single work poetry (p. 18)
- Lionessi"In the dark, when", single work poetry (p. 19)
- The Commoni"It's as though deeper, inside", single work poetry (p. 20)
- Her Picturei"I illustrated the snake", single work poetry (p. 21)
- Starlighti"I should have held your breasts", single work poetry (p. 22)
- In the Alleyi"I had watched her in the alley", single work poetry (p. 23)
- Under the Sign of `The Big H' : The Placei"Only by devastation", single work poetry (p. 24)
- Under the Sign of `The Big H' : The Feari"She carries the huge", single work poetry (p. 24)
- Under the Sign of `The Big H' : The Actioni"Bent-necked, with teeth clenching", single work poetry (p. 25)
- Marnta Pieces : 1 : (Marnta)i"In the centre of", single work poetry (p. 26)
- Marnta Pieces : 2i"When she switched out", single work poetry (p. 26)
- Marnta Pieces : 3 : (Pieces)i"I said to the child,", single work poetry (p. 27)
- Marnta Pieces : 4i"Bonnie and I were", single work poetry (p. 27)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
- y Literary Migrations : White, English-Speaking Migrant Writers in Australia Wollongong : 2011 Z1860612 2011 single work thesis 'In this thesis, I am arguing that [a] false core/periphery binary has made a particular group of migrants ,-those who are white and have migrated from English-speaking countries - invisible - invisible as migrants, that is. For the writers within this group, this leads to a critical blindness in relation to their work and place within Australian national literature. As a critic, however, I look at the work of Ruth Park, Alex Miller and John Mateer and see it is profoundly influenced by their migrant experience. More often than not they write about themes that are typical of migrant writing: alienation, identity, belonging, home, being in-between cultures, history. For a more appropriate, complete appreciation of their work, this thesis argues that it is imperative to go back to the beginning and return the 'default setting' of migrant to its literal meaning.' [From the author's abstract]
-
'Talking with Yagan's Head' : The Poetry of John Mateer
2000
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: Australian Literary Studies , October vol. 19 no. 4 2000; (p. 387-398) -
Poetry : Two Poets of Western Australia
1999
single work
review
— Appears in: Antipodes , June vol. 13 no. 1 1999; (p. 55)
— Review of The Hunt and Other Poems 1998 selected work poetry ; Anachronism 1997 selected work poetry -
Untitled
1997
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Multicultural Book Review , vol. 5 no. 2 1997; (p. 32-34)
— Review of Anachronism 1997 selected work poetry -
[Review Essay] Anachronism
1997
single work
review
— Appears in: Westerly , Summer vol. 42 no. 4 1997; (p. 139-142)
— Review of Anachronism 1997 selected work poetry
-
[Review] Dumbstruck and Anachronism
1997
single work
review
— Appears in: Cordite : Poetry and Poetics Review , no. 1 1997; (p. 22)
— Review of Dumbstruck 1996 selected work poetry ; Anachronism 1997 selected work poetry -
Two WA Immigrant Poets
1997
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , February-March no. 188 1997; (p. 46-47)
— Review of Anachronism 1997 selected work poetry -
[Review Essay] Anachronism
1997
single work
review
— Appears in: Westerly , Summer vol. 42 no. 4 1997; (p. 139-142)
— Review of Anachronism 1997 selected work poetry -
Untitled
1997
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Multicultural Book Review , vol. 5 no. 2 1997; (p. 32-34)
— Review of Anachronism 1997 selected work poetry -
Poetry : Two Poets of Western Australia
1999
single work
review
— Appears in: Antipodes , June vol. 13 no. 1 1999; (p. 55)
— Review of The Hunt and Other Poems 1998 selected work poetry ; Anachronism 1997 selected work poetry - y Literary Migrations : White, English-Speaking Migrant Writers in Australia Wollongong : 2011 Z1860612 2011 single work thesis 'In this thesis, I am arguing that [a] false core/periphery binary has made a particular group of migrants ,-those who are white and have migrated from English-speaking countries - invisible - invisible as migrants, that is. For the writers within this group, this leads to a critical blindness in relation to their work and place within Australian national literature. As a critic, however, I look at the work of Ruth Park, Alex Miller and John Mateer and see it is profoundly influenced by their migrant experience. More often than not they write about themes that are typical of migrant writing: alienation, identity, belonging, home, being in-between cultures, history. For a more appropriate, complete appreciation of their work, this thesis argues that it is imperative to go back to the beginning and return the 'default setting' of migrant to its literal meaning.' [From the author's abstract]
-
'Talking with Yagan's Head' : The Poetry of John Mateer
2000
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: Australian Literary Studies , October vol. 19 no. 4 2000; (p. 387-398)
Last amended 6 Mar 2006 10:57:11
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