Cirrus@Austlit

Billy Jones began keeping daily journals in June 1975, which has now amounted to a total of 167 unpublished journals. Some of these are currently held in the Fryer Library at the University of Queensland, and the Australian Defence Force Academy Library in Canberra. The journals are filled with personal reflections, letters, sketches, poetry, photographs, and other images that he drew inspiration from. As Jones began keeping these journals at the start of his career, his journey and development as an artist and poet can be traced through them. They also reveal significant artistic influences which are evident in his published works.

Jones begins his first journal, titled Peacock Journal: Minute Book, with the quote "To you whoever you are..." by Walt Whitman, one of his major artistic influences (Jones, personal journal, parcel 1, n.p.). He started this journal over a month after Kelly's death, and in his entry on 29 June, 1975, he writes the following which explains the special meaning behind this particular journal:

"I have begun a new journal... Renewal in the forest. It is really a sun-dance. Once American Indians sun-danced every two-three years to renew themselves and nature rejoiced. I have been sun-dancing since my beloved's death. Moon-dancing too and it opens out to the radiance of her spirit in the forest. Tiny grass wren. Blessed honeyeater. Dear little bird" (Jones, personal journal, parcel 1, n.p.).

He is clearly still grieving the loss of Kelly, and the entries in his first journal mention her frequently. Even his interest in nature and his belief that everything is connected to each other relates back to her, as he writes in one of the entries, "...what is nature but my lady's infinite presence" (Jones, personal journal, parcel 1, n.p.). Dealing with his sadness and grief over her death, he writes "Since Dianne's death time has flowed into a movement I can really no longer measure" (Jones, personal journal, parcel 1, n.p.), which explains his desire to write dated entries and record his daily activities. He also writes about wanting to use his first journal to start a new life—not as an artist or poet, but as a human. Consequently, he rarely includes poetry and artwork in it; however, a number of Jones's early artistic influences are identified in this journal, such as his interest in nature, Australian animal imagery, Japanese erotic art, Vincent van Gogh, and watercolour nature artworks. Furthermore, he expresses a sense of isolation in this journal as he mainly writes about Kelly, often retreating to the forest near his house or other secluded locations, while in his later journals he writes about a considerably larger number of people. There is also a stronger focus on his work in his later journals; however, they have become more of a place for personal reflection and sketches, rather than for his poetry.

Jones's 161st journal, titled Orgasmic Muse Fire Nature Spirit Eyes, is similar to his earlier journals in regards to the type of content it includes. It includes numerous sketches scattered throughout it—mainly portraits of women—and also references to other works such as the painting "The Slave Ship" by J.M.W. Turner. Additional information regarding other works that might have influenced his works are also identified in it, such as when he writes about his favourite works being Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, William Blake's Augeries of Innocence, Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, and the Complete Letters of Vincent van Gogh. However, changes are evident in the style of his writing. In this journal, and particularly in his later journals, his writing seems to resemble stream of consciousness, flowing from one thought to the next. Compared to his earlier journals, there are more changes in thought and more that are of short length—like fragments rather than one coherent entry—and he distinguishes these changes in thought through different coloured pens.