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Alf Taylor Alf Taylor i(A27029 works by) (a.k.a. Alfred Taylor)
Born: Established: 18 Nov 1947 Perth, Western Australia, ; Died: Ceased: 29 Jul 2023
Gender: Male
Heritage: Aboriginal Noongar / Nyoongar / Nyoongah / Nyungar / Nyungah / Noonygar ; Aboriginal
(Storyteller) assertion
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Works By

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1 y separately published work icon Cartwarra or What? Cartwarra or What? : Selected Poems and Short Stories Alf Taylor , Broome : Magabala Books , 2022 23948870 2022 selected work poetry short story

'Cartwarra or what? Selected poems and stories is a compendium of Alf’s works that span several literary genres, and is representative of an older generation of Blak writers who were survivors of the Stolen Generations. His poetry and short stories have been anthologised and published in various collections, spanning a career of over 30 years. This collection delicately weaves together his past works for a new generation, in which not much has changed.

'This collection of stories and poems is, at best, raw, intermittently melodramatic, but always full of colourful, engaging characters imbued with playful humour and ironic storytelling. Alf seamlessly captures human frailty, in all its contradictions, and seizes upon ironies that coexist, merge and jostle for light and space in everyday Nyoongar life. Alf’s storytelling exposes the uncomfortable truths of alcoholism, separation from family, community and land, grief and the profound loss of identity on the everyday life of his Aboriginal characters.

'Alf’s stories and poems offer a vivid picture of the care, kindness and gentleness of Aboriginal families and communities and their enduring strength, resourcefulness and power.'  (Publication summary)

1 4 y separately published work icon God, the Devil and Me Alf Taylor , Broome : Magabala Books , 2021 20765402 2021 single work autobiography

'In this unique and highly entertaining autobiography, Alf Taylor chronicles his life growing up in the infamous New Norcia Mission, north of Perth in the fifties and sixties. 

'At once darkly humorous and achingly tragic, God, The Devil and Me tells of the life and desperation of the young children forced into the care of the Spanish Nuns and Brothers who ran the Mission. Their lives made up of varying degrees of cruelty and punishments, these children were the 'little black devils' that God and religion forgot. Written with an acerbic and brutal wit, Alf intersperses dark childhood memories with a Monty Pythonesque retelling of the Bible, in which Peter is an alcoholic and Judas is a good guy.

'As a child, underfed, poorly clothed and missing his family, Alf sought refuge in the library in the company of Shakespeare and Michelangelo. He writes with joy about the camaraderie of the boys, their love of sport and their own company, but also notes that many descended into despair upon leaving. Most died early. Alf Taylor is one of the 'lucky ones'.

Source : publisher's blurb

1 Boney Knees i "Young boney knees", Alf Taylor , 2011 single work poetry
— Appears in: Southerly , vol. 71 no. 2 2011; (p. 143)
1 Binjareb Spear i "In the silent water, after the first rain,", Alf Taylor , 2009 single work poetry
— Appears in: Westerly , November vol. 54 no. 2 2009; (p. 138-139)
1 The Land i "Sitting in the back seat", Alf Taylor , 2009 single work poetry
— Appears in: Westerly , November vol. 54 no. 2 2009; (p. 89-90) The Turnrow Anthology of Contemporary Australian Poetry 2014; (p. 494-495) The Fremantle Press Anthology of Western Australian Poetry 2017;
1 Noongar Woman and a Mobile Phone i "No more reading smoke signals", Alf Taylor , 2009 single work poetry
— Appears in: Westerly , November vol. 54 no. 2 2009; (p. 55)
1 Wildflower Girl Alf Taylor , 2009 single work extract
— Appears in: Westerly , November vol. 54 no. 2 2009; (p. 49-54) Editor's Desk - 2020 2020; Flock : First Nations Stories Then and Now 2021; (p. 99-105)
1 Mother's Hand i "Alone and so cold", Alf Taylor , 2007 single work poetry
— Appears in: Salt Magazine , no. 1 (New Series) 2007;
1 Before You Jesus i "In the name", Alf Taylor , 2007 single work poetry
— Appears in: Salt Magazine , no. 1 (New Series) 2007;
1 William Shakespeare i "William Shakespeare", Alf Taylor , 2007 single work poetry
— Appears in: Salt Magazine , no. 1 (New Series) 2007; The Turnrow Anthology of Contemporary Australian Poetry 2014; (p. 493)
1 Moorditj Yorgah i "You are a cruel", Alf Taylor , 2007 single work poetry
— Appears in: Salt Magazine , no. 1 (New Series) 2007; The Penguin Anthology of Australian Poetry 2009; (p. 292-293) The Turnrow Anthology of Contemporary Australian Poetry 2014; (p. 492) The Fremantle Press Anthology of Western Australian Poetry 2017; Fire Front : First Nations Poetry and Power Today 2020; (p. 65)
1 Hear This, You Elders i "Listen all who own this land", Alf Taylor , 2007 single work poetry
— Appears in: Westerly , November vol. 52 no. 2007; (p. 139-140)
1 1 From 'God, the Devil, and Me' Alf Taylor , 2005 extract short story (From God, the Devil and Me)
— Appears in: Beyond Good And Evil? Essays on the Literature and Culture of the Asia-Pacific Region 2005; (p. 211-223)
1 My Ancestors i "My ancestors", Alf Taylor , 2005 single work poetry
— Appears in: Agenda , Spring/Summer vol. 41 no. 1-2 2005; (p. 137)
1 God, the Devil and Me Alf Taylor , 2005 extract short story
— Appears in: Westerly , November vol. 50 no. 2005; (p. 121-127)
1 Peter Meeting Judas in Heaven (from : God, the Devil and Me, a work-in-progress) Alf Taylor , 2005 extract short story
— Appears in: Westerly , November vol. 50 no. 2005; (p. 121-127)
1 Magic of Madras Alf Taylor , 2002 single work autobiography
— Appears in: Southerly , vol. 62 no. 2 2002; (p. 79-83)
Taylor relates his experience of travelling to India for the inaugural conference of the Indian Association for the Study of Australia in January 2002. While in India, Taylor made an oral recording about his childhood experiences at New Norcia Mission.
1 Nguwarri Minyma (Pretty Woman) Nyuwarri Minyma (Pretty Woman) i "You are a", Alf Taylor , 2001 single work poetry
— Appears in: Untreated : Poems by Black Writers 2001; (p. 64-65) Agenda , Spring/Summer vol. 41 no. 1-2 2005; (p. 136)
1 Didjeridoo and Clapsticks i "As a child", Alf Taylor , 2001 single work poetry
— Appears in: Untreated : Poems by Black Writers 2001; (p. 66-67) Agenda , Spring/Summer vol. 41 no. 1-2 2005; (p. 135-136)
1 Charlie Alf Taylor , 2001 single work short story
— Appears in: Long Time Now : Stories of the Dreamtime, the Here and Now 2001; (p. 137-145)
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