y separately published work icon Anachronism selected work   poetry  
Issue Details: First known date: 1997... 1997 Anachronism
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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", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 11)
Touching / Wouldi"In my dream I", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 12)
As Zeroi"Words were zero when we could all", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 13)
A `White Australian Poet'i"I spoke to the famous poet", John Mateer , 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,", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 16)
At Grant Street Staioni"The way he was speaking to her, not", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 17)
Her White Dressi"When the surveyor held her arms", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 18)
Lionessi"In the dark, when", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 19)
The Commoni"It's as though deeper, inside", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 20)
Her Picturei"I illustrated the snake", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 21)
Starlighti"I should have held your breasts", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 22)
In the Alleyi"I had watched her in the alley", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 23)
Under the Sign of `The Big H' : The Placei"Only by devastation", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 24)
Under the Sign of `The Big H' : The Feari"She carries the huge", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 24)
Under the Sign of `The Big H' : The Actioni"Bent-necked, with teeth clenching", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 25)
Marnta Pieces : 1 : (Marnta)i"In the centre of", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 26)
Marnta Pieces : 2i"When she switched out", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 26)
Marnta Pieces : 3 : (Pieces)i"I said to the child,", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 27)
Marnta Pieces : 4i"Bonnie and I were", John Mateer , single work poetry (p. 27)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • South Fremantle, Fremantle area, South West Perth, Perth, Western Australia,: Fremantle Press , 1997 .
      Extent: 96p.
      Note/s:
      • Cover: Brian Mckay, Mediterranean Legend (detail), 1976. Oil on canvas, 86.3x 117.2 cm. The Art Gallery of Western Australia Collection.
      ISBN: 1863681620

Works about this Work

y separately published work icon Literary Migrations : White, English-Speaking Migrant Writers in Australia Ingeborg van Teeseling , 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 Michael Heald , 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 Tom Bishop , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: Antipodes , June vol. 13 no. 1 1999; (p. 55)

— Review of The Hunt and Other Poems John Kinsella , 1998 selected work poetry ; Anachronism John Mateer , 1997 selected work poetry
[Review] Anachronism Liat Kirby , 1997 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Multicultural Book Review , vol. 5 no. 2 1997; (p. 32-34)

— Review of Anachronism John Mateer , 1997 selected work poetry
[Review Essay] Anachronism Tony Hughes-d'Aeth , 1997 single work review
— Appears in: Westerly , Summer vol. 42 no. 4 1997; (p. 139-142)

— Review of Anachronism John Mateer , 1997 selected work poetry
[Review] Dumbstruck and Anachronism Peter Minter , 1997 single work review
— Appears in: Cordite : Poetry and Poetics Review , no. 1 1997; (p. 22)

— Review of Dumbstruck Marcella Polain , 1996 selected work poetry ; Anachronism John Mateer , 1997 selected work poetry
Two WA Immigrant Poets Michael Costigan , 1997 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , February-March no. 188 1997; (p. 46-47)

— Review of Anachronism John Mateer , 1997 selected work poetry
[Review Essay] Anachronism Tony Hughes-d'Aeth , 1997 single work review
— Appears in: Westerly , Summer vol. 42 no. 4 1997; (p. 139-142)

— Review of Anachronism John Mateer , 1997 selected work poetry
[Review] Anachronism Liat Kirby , 1997 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Multicultural Book Review , vol. 5 no. 2 1997; (p. 32-34)

— Review of Anachronism John Mateer , 1997 selected work poetry
Poetry : Two Poets of Western Australia Tom Bishop , 1999 single work review
— Appears in: Antipodes , June vol. 13 no. 1 1999; (p. 55)

— Review of The Hunt and Other Poems John Kinsella , 1998 selected work poetry ; Anachronism John Mateer , 1997 selected work poetry
y separately published work icon Literary Migrations : White, English-Speaking Migrant Writers in Australia Ingeborg van Teeseling , 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 Michael Heald , 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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