AustLit
Latest Issues
AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'For many years it was assumed that poetry came from England. Research now clearly demonstrates, however, that a great many of the world’s most famous poets were actually Australians.
'Possibly the most important anthology ever published. The definitive collection featuring key works by such famous Australian poets as Gavin Milton, Arnold Wordsworth, Sylvia Blath, Very Manly Hopkins, R.A.C.V. Milne and Dylan Thompson.' (Publication summary)
Notes
-
Dedication: for Helen
Contents
- Tide is Igoin Outei"Tide is igoin oute", single work poetry (p. 18-19)
- Upon Julia's Speedosi"Whenas in Speedos Julia goes,", single work poetry humour (p. 20)
- On His Governmenti"When I consider how my tax is spent,", single work poetry (p. 21-22)
- The Warniadi"Prodigious talent is a dang'rous thing;", single work poetry (p. 23-25)
- Hoosagood Boytheni"For I will consider my dog, Grant.", single work poetry (p. 26-29)
- The Work of Harmonyi"Whose hobs are these, whose forging shape?", single work poetry (p. 30)
- To a Howardi"Wee, sleekit, cowerin, tim'rous beastie,", single work poetry humour (p. 31-32)
- Lines Composed About Halfway Across the Pyrmont Bridgei"Earth has not anything to show more fair,", single work poetry humour (p. 33)
- Jenny Hit Mei"Jenny hit me when we met, Leaping from the tree", single work poetry (p. 34)
- The Burial of Surgeon Moore at Narrungai"Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note", single work poetry humour (p. 35-36)
- A Customary Talei"There was a naught boy", single work poetry (p. 37-38)
- Myer's Whopperi"Take the pieces from the package,", single work poetry (p. 39-40)
- Untitledi"There was an old man with a beard,", single work poetry (p. 41-43)
- The Pibbledy-Pobbledy Mani"When the Younghy Bonghy's singly fat", single work poetry (p. 43-44)
- The Westgate Bridge Disasteri"I'm extremely sorry to have to say,", single work poetry (p. 45-48)
- Poemsi"Are you anybody? I'm not either,", single work poetry (p. 49-51)
- The Failed Businessmani"Why Harry, my boy, and how do you do?", single work poetry satire (p. 52-54)
- The Hunting of the Smirki"'Twas ruddock and the blundertrope", single work poetry (p. 55-56)
- Who Killed Ned Kelly?i"Who killed Ned Kelly?i", single work poetry (p. 57-59)
- Pied Againi"I bought this morning Monday's paper", single work poetry (p. 60-61)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
John Clarke, Tinker-Poet
2019
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Comedy Studies , vol. 10 no. 1 2019; (p. 102-118)'Clarke’s poetic output was never the main game, but he was persistent in developing the (entirely self-authored) Complete Book of Australian Verse (39 poems; Clarke, 1989) through two intermediate versions culminating in the 2012 edition of Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse (68 poems). This article addresses the central characteristics of Clarke’s art through the voice, timing and rhythm of these parodic poems. They illustrate the sort of parody discussed in ‘Are parody and deconstruction secretly the same thing?’ (Phiddian, 1997 and subsequent work). Clarke’s own favoured word for his writing practice, tinkering, suits such carefully wrought pieces well, and fits with more expansive notions of parody as critical and creative refunctioning of models rather than as narrow lampoons. Through intimate imitation and distortion, they display a guarded, sometimes hostile, affection and a jagged nostalgia both for their poetic vehicles and for the Australian subject matter. Clarke always inhabits the words of others in his Australian work, speaking via parodic deflection. This contrasts with the Daggy directness of his New Zealand work. Was he only ever a visitor in Oz? Was the parodic reserve a necessary carapace against the sort of fame that he fled in the 1970s? This article reads the poems as a window onto the distinctive rhythms of Clarke’s writing and his complexly ironic relationships with both his homeland and his adopted nation. His resistance of 'the voice direct' made him a wry and knowledgeable visitor and offers an abiding challenge to Australianness.'
Source: Abstract.
-
Untitled
2012
single work
review
— Appears in: The Lifted Brow , no. 14 2012; (p. 24)
— Review of The Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse 1994 selected work poetry -
A Very Alternative View of Literature
2004
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sunday Age , 29 February 2004; (p. 24)
— Review of The Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse 1994 selected work poetry -
Ballad of a Postmodern Dagg
2004
single work
biography
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 3-4 January 2004; (p. 10) -
Pastiche
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 13 December 2003; (p. 6)
— Review of The Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse 1994 selected work poetry
-
Pastiche
2003
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 13 December 2003; (p. 6)
— Review of The Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse 1994 selected work poetry -
A Very Alternative View of Literature
2004
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sunday Age , 29 February 2004; (p. 24)
— Review of The Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse 1994 selected work poetry -
Untitled
2012
single work
review
— Appears in: The Lifted Brow , no. 14 2012; (p. 24)
— Review of The Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse 1994 selected work poetry -
From Bard to Verse
1995
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sunday Age , 1 January 1995; (p. 8)
— Review of The Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse 1994 selected work poetry -
Clarke's Local Line in Well-Versed Parody
1995
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australian , 7 February 1995; (p. 19)
— Review of The Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse 1994 selected work poetry -
Ballad of a Postmodern Dagg
2004
single work
biography
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 3-4 January 2004; (p. 10) -
Poetry as Writ by Unknown Rhymers
1994
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 19 November 1994; (p. C5) -
Poetic Wit
1994
single work
biography
— Appears in: Storm , December vol. 1 no. 10 1994; (p. 10-11) -
John Clarke, Tinker-Poet
2019
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Comedy Studies , vol. 10 no. 1 2019; (p. 102-118)'Clarke’s poetic output was never the main game, but he was persistent in developing the (entirely self-authored) Complete Book of Australian Verse (39 poems; Clarke, 1989) through two intermediate versions culminating in the 2012 edition of Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse (68 poems). This article addresses the central characteristics of Clarke’s art through the voice, timing and rhythm of these parodic poems. They illustrate the sort of parody discussed in ‘Are parody and deconstruction secretly the same thing?’ (Phiddian, 1997 and subsequent work). Clarke’s own favoured word for his writing practice, tinkering, suits such carefully wrought pieces well, and fits with more expansive notions of parody as critical and creative refunctioning of models rather than as narrow lampoons. Through intimate imitation and distortion, they display a guarded, sometimes hostile, affection and a jagged nostalgia both for their poetic vehicles and for the Australian subject matter. Clarke always inhabits the words of others in his Australian work, speaking via parodic deflection. This contrasts with the Daggy directness of his New Zealand work. Was he only ever a visitor in Oz? Was the parodic reserve a necessary carapace against the sort of fame that he fled in the 1970s? This article reads the poems as a window onto the distinctive rhythms of Clarke’s writing and his complexly ironic relationships with both his homeland and his adopted nation. His resistance of 'the voice direct' made him a wry and knowledgeable visitor and offers an abiding challenge to Australianness.'
Source: Abstract.
