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'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
- Rosarium, sequence poetry (p. 1-13)
- Death's Dream Kingdomi"A sudden as that. A breath taken. Then not.", single work poetry (p. 3)
- Mutter Songi"You're going and that's that! to live", single work poetry (p. 4)
- Onusi"Thirteen a tricky number thirteen months", single work poetry (p. 5)
- There Will Be a Girl Whoi"The vertigo of fright has no hidey-hole", single work poetry (p. 6)
- This Viper Her Tonguei"Saying what it wants to say stinging", single work poetry (p. 7)
- Providencei"All for thee my Lord O my Jesus all for thee", single work poetry (p. 8)
- Panic Belli"O that bell that panic that every Sunday", single work poetry (p. 9)
- How Will You Know Who You Arei"If you are unremembered, anonymous", single work poetry (p. 10)
- Gamblei"O parent of the rod and the threat (if", single work poetry (p. 11)
- Creedi"I believe I believe in Skipping Girl Vinegar my", single work poetry (p. 12)
- Gloriai"How many roses make a family?", single work poetry (p. 13)
- The Luminous, sequence poetry (p. 15-17)
- Rose, Roses, Rosaryi"Beginning with a great idea", single work poetry (p. 17-18)
- Miasmatai"Birrarung, river of mists and shadows", single work poetry (p. 20)
- Coilsi"As if women are rivers", single work poetry (p. 20)
- The Doori"It used to seem so big", single work poetry (p. 21-22)
- Iambic Pentameteri"I watch myself how I use my voice how", single work poetry (p. 23)
- Each Phantom Ache an Amputeei"In the whisper trenches", single work poetry (p. 24-25)
- All God's Servants Are Equali"but if-when the axe falls only one neck", single work poetry (p. 26)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Issued also in various ebook formats.
Works about this Work
-
Review Short : Patricia Sykes’ ‘The Abbotsford Mysteries’
2013
single work
review
— Appears in: Cordite Poetry Review , 1 February no. 41 2013;
— Review of The Abbotsford Mysteries 2011 selected work poetry -
The Remembered, the Haunted, and the Differing : Patricia Sykes’ The Abbotsford Mysteries
2012
single work
review
— Appears in: Verity La , February 2012;
— Review of The Abbotsford Mysteries 2011 selected work poetry -
To Whinge or Not to Whinge
2012
single work
essay
— Appears in: Rochford Street Review , May-July no. 4 2012; -
Structure, Technique and Passion
2012
single work
review
— Appears in: Rochford Street Review , March-April no. 3 2012;
— Review of The Abbotsford Mysteries 2011 selected work poetry -
A Sense of Embattlement
2012
single work
review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 11 February 2012; (p. 26)
— Review of Armour 2011 selected work poetry ; The Abbotsford Mysteries 2011 selected work poetry
-
A Sense of Embattlement
2012
single work
review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 11 February 2012; (p. 26)
— Review of Armour 2011 selected work poetry ; The Abbotsford Mysteries 2011 selected work poetry -
Review Short : Patricia Sykes’ ‘The Abbotsford Mysteries’
2013
single work
review
— Appears in: Cordite Poetry Review , 1 February no. 41 2013;
— Review of The Abbotsford Mysteries 2011 selected work poetry -
Structure, Technique and Passion
2012
single work
review
— Appears in: Rochford Street Review , March-April no. 3 2012;
— Review of The Abbotsford Mysteries 2011 selected work poetry -
The Remembered, the Haunted, and the Differing : Patricia Sykes’ The Abbotsford Mysteries
2012
single work
review
— Appears in: Verity La , February 2012;
— Review of The Abbotsford Mysteries 2011 selected work poetry -
To Whinge or Not to Whinge
2012
single work
essay
— Appears in: Rochford Street Review , May-July no. 4 2012;
- Abbotsford, Fitzroy - Collingwood area, Melbourne - North, Melbourne, Victoria,