y separately published work icon The Clean Dark selected work   poetry  
  • Author:agent Robert Adamson http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/adamson-robert
Issue Details: First known date: 1989... 1989 The Clean Dark
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Notes

  • Poems presented in four parts. Part One: Re-Writing The Hawkesbury. includes epigraph: Je dis: une fleur! et, hors de l'oubli ou ma voix relegue aucun contour, en tant que quelque chose d'autre que les calices sus, musicalement se leve, idee meme et suave, l'absente de tous bouquets. Mallarme, Variations Sur Un Sujet.

    Part Two: The Speaking Page. Includes Epigraphs: We spoke in words which sounded and then died away... But to create a material thing which could be used to give voice to the decree, what Word did you speak? Augustine, Confessions XI 6.

    Part Three: Imagination, A Flame With Many Tongues. Includes Epigraph: Throw away the lights, the definitions, / And say of what you see in the dark. Wallace Stevens, The Man With The Blue Guitar.

    Part Four: No River, No Death. Includes Epigraph: For so it is proper to find value / In a bleak skill. Geoffrey Hill, The Songbook of Sebastian Arrurruz.

Contents

* Contents derived from the Sydney, New South Wales,:Paper Bark Press , 1989 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Green Prawn Mapi"Morning before sunrise, sheets of dark air", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 17-18) Section: Re-writing the Hawkesbury
Note: No dedication.
The Channelsi"At Mooney there had been killing", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 19-20) Section: Re-writing the Hawkesbury
Note: No dedication.
Songs for Junoi"My lies are for you, take them utterly, along", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 21-22) Section: Re-writing the Hawkesbury
By No Man's Code : A Song Map : Preludei"The Lotus Bird's signature is slenderness,", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 23) Section: Part One: Re-Writing the Hawkesbury
By No Man's Code : A Song Map : The Trophyi"At the mouth of the estuary, a harbour-side", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 24) Section: Part One: Re-Writing the Hawkesbury
Note: Part of a sequence of six numbered and titled poems: 1 The Jesus Bird; 2 The Trophy; 3 Wild Colonial Boys; 4 The Charts; 5 Full Tide; 6 Fishing With My Stepson.
By No Man's Code : A Song Map : Wild Colonial Boysi"Musk ducks and the plump Wonga pigeon", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 25) Section: Part One: Re-Writing the Hawkesbury
Note: Part of a sequence of six numbered and titled poems: 1 The Jesus Bird; 2 The Trophy; 3 Wild Colonial Boys; 4 The Charts; 5 Full Tide; 6 Fishing With My Stepson.
By No Man's Code : A Song Map : A Speaking Pagei"This stanza marks the territory", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 26) Section: Part One: Re-Writing the Hawkesbury
Note: Part of a sequence of six numbered and titled poems: 1 The Jesus Bird; 2 The Trophy; 3 Wild Colonial Boys; 4 The Charts; 5 Full Tide; 6 Fishing With My Stepson.
By No Man's Code : A Song Map : Full Tidei"My whole being's the bay,", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 27) Section: Part One: Re-Writing the Hawkesbury
Note: Part of a sequence of six numbered and titled poems: 1 The Jesus Bird; 2 The Trophy; 3 Wild Colonial Boys; 4 The Charts; 5 Full Tide; 6 Fishing With My Stepson.
By No Man's Code : A Song Map : Fishing with My Stepsoni"We wake by your watch on my wrist,", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 28) Section: Part One: Re-Writing the Hawkesbury
Note: Part of a sequence of six numbered and titled poems: 1 The Jesus Bird; 2 The Trophy; 3 Wild Colonial Boys; 4 The Charts; 5 Full Tide; 6 Fishing With My Stepson.
By No Man's Code : A Song Map : Codai"In swamp land on an outcrop thick -", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 29) Section: Part 1: Re-Writing the Hawkesbury
Gutting The Salmoni"The blade touches the fish heart, over", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 30) Section: Part 1: Re-Writing the Hawkesbury
Coupletsi"On days still when the tide's full, river", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 31) Section: Part 1: Re-Writing the Hawkesbury
Note: No dedication
The Speaking Pagei"When the tide comes up over", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 37-38) Section: Part 2: The Speaking Page
Note: First line: When the tide moves again
Something Survivesi"Touching earth again animals", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 39) Section: Part 2: The Speaking Page
Silvai"It came into being from the splintered limbs", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 40-41) Section: Part 2: The Speaking Page
The Difference Looking Backi"Australia when I was a boy seemed like", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 42-44) Section: Part 2: The Speaking Page
Dreaming Up Motheri"Understanding is all, my mother would tell me,", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 45) Section: Part 2: The Speaking Page
Remembering Postsi"In this country, beyond the sparkle and the junk", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 46) Section: Part 2: The Speaking Page
Note: No dedication. First line: In this country, beyond the sparkle
The Kissi"The lips closed in the air hovered together", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 47) Section: Part 2: The Speaking Page
Angel's Own Kind : 1 : Ram Livesi"Spun round on his boot heel, turned to face", Robert Adamson , single work poetry (p. 48) Section: Part 2: The Speaking Page
Note: Angel's Own Kind is a sequence of three numbered and titled poems: 1 Ram Lives; 2 Law of the Land; 3 Last Rites.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Sydney, New South Wales,: Paper Bark Press , 1989 .
      Extent: 93; [4]p. of platesp.
      Note/s:
      • Dedication: For Juno - a new book for a new life.
      • Epigraph: Two pictures of a rose in the dark. One is quite black; for the rose is invisible. In the other, it is painted in full detail and surrounded by black. Is one of them right, the other wrong? Don't we talk of a white rose in the dark and of a red rose in the dark? And don't we say for all that that they can't be distinguished in the dark? Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations.

      Holdings

      Held at: Monash University Monash University Library

Works about this Work

Australian Poetry : Reflections on Nature, Space and Identity Jayne Fenton-Keane , 2010 single work criticism
— Appears in: Explorations In Australian Poetry 2010; (p. 1-40)
Jayne Fenton Keane's essay presents an overview of the many treatments of nature rendered by a host of contemporary Australian poets. (v)
Australian Landscape as the Language of a New Identity Roberta Falcone , 2009 single work criticism
— Appears in: Imagined Australia : Reflections around the Reciprocal Construction of Identity between Australia and Europe 2009; (p. 123-136)
'The aim of this paper is to highlight the reasons of the transformation of what is called the ‘Anglo-Australian identity’ through the analysis of films, poetry and plays. Such an hyphenated identity allows the dominance of the ethnic, hybrid group who believes itself to represent the authenticity of the inhabitants of that place.' (pp. 123-124)
Waving to Hart Crane Michael Brennan , 2007 single work criticism
— Appears in: Salt Magazine , no. 1 (New Series) 2007;
Interview with Robert Adamson, 1996 John Kinsella (interviewer), 1999 single work interview
— Appears in: Salt , vol. 11 no. 1999; (p. 315-345)
Fishing Verse Delights Norman Talbot , 1992 single work review
— Appears in: The Newcastle Herald , 6 June 1992; (p. 48)

— Review of The Clean Dark Robert Adamson , 1989 selected work poetry ; Three Days Out of Tidal Town Anthony Lawrence , 1992 selected work poetry
Under New Management Jamie Grant , 1992 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Review , March no. 40 1992; (p. 16-17)

— Review of Selected Sonnets Jeff Guess , 1991 selected work poetry ; The Clean Dark Robert Adamson , 1989 selected work poetry ; Formerlight : Selected Poems Alan Gould , 1992 selected work poetry ; The History of Colour : Poems K. F. Pearson , 1991 selected work poetry
Rich Crop of Recent Poetry Geoff Page , 1989 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 7 October 1989; (p. 14)

— Review of The Epigrams of Martial Laurie Duggan , 1989 selected work poetry ; Years Found in Likeness Alan Gould , 1988 selected work poetry ; The Clean Dark Robert Adamson , 1989 selected work poetry ; Singles : Shorter Works 1981-1986 John Scott , 1989 selected work poetry ; The Idyll Wheel : Cycle of a Year at Bunyah, New South Wales, April 1986 - April 1987 Les Murray , 1989 sequence poetry ; The Asphalt and the Stars Frank McMahon , 1989 selected work poetry
Speeding Along Lines of Love and Nature Graeme Kinross-Smith , 1990 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 6 January 1990; (p. 7)

— Review of Driving Too Fast Dorothy Porter , 1989 selected work poetry ; The Shed Manifesto : Poems Tony Lintermans , 1989 selected work poetry ; The Clean Dark Robert Adamson , 1989 selected work poetry
Mind's Image Casts Light In Exile's Dark Places Heather Cam , 1989 single work review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 23 September 1989; (p. 81)

— Review of Brushing the Dark Andrew Sant , 1989 selected work poetry ; The Clean Dark Robert Adamson , 1989 selected work poetry ; The Partiality of Harbours Manfred Jurgensen , 1989 selected work poetry ; Night Parrots John Kinsella , 1989 selected work poetry
Private Terrains Charted Publicly Martin Duwell , 1990 single work review
— Appears in: The Australian Magazine , 6-7 January 1990; (p. 6)

— Review of Eros in Landscape Jena Woodhouse , 1989 selected work poetry ; The Shed Manifesto : Poems Tony Lintermans , 1989 selected work poetry ; The Clean Dark Robert Adamson , 1989 selected work poetry ; Night Parrots John Kinsella , 1989 selected work poetry
Interview with Robert Adamson, 1996 John Kinsella (interviewer), 1999 single work interview
— Appears in: Salt , vol. 11 no. 1999; (p. 315-345)
Waving to Hart Crane Michael Brennan , 2007 single work criticism
— Appears in: Salt Magazine , no. 1 (New Series) 2007;
Australian Landscape as the Language of a New Identity Roberta Falcone , 2009 single work criticism
— Appears in: Imagined Australia : Reflections around the Reciprocal Construction of Identity between Australia and Europe 2009; (p. 123-136)
'The aim of this paper is to highlight the reasons of the transformation of what is called the ‘Anglo-Australian identity’ through the analysis of films, poetry and plays. Such an hyphenated identity allows the dominance of the ethnic, hybrid group who believes itself to represent the authenticity of the inhabitants of that place.' (pp. 123-124)
Australian Poetry : Reflections on Nature, Space and Identity Jayne Fenton-Keane , 2010 single work criticism
— Appears in: Explorations In Australian Poetry 2010; (p. 1-40)
Jayne Fenton Keane's essay presents an overview of the many treatments of nature rendered by a host of contemporary Australian poets. (v)
Foreword [15-16 September, 1990] 1990 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Australian Magazine , 15-16 September 1990; (p. 5)
Last amended 16 Dec 2014 09:06:23
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