Presence : Translations from the Natural World sequence   poetry  
  • Author:agent Les Murray http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/murray-les
Issue Details: First known date: 1992... 1992 Presence : Translations from the Natural World
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Includes

The Octave of Elephants i "Bull elephants, when not weeping need, wander soberly alone.", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Sunday Herald , 12 August 1990; (p. 35) The Sydney Morning Herald , 25 August 1990; (p. 72) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 22) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 10) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 32) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 382)
— Appears in: Ein ganz gewohnlicher Regenbogen : Gedichte 1996; (p. 132)
Eagle Pair i "We shell down on the sleeping-branch. All night", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 208) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 21) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 9) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 15) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 371-372) The Oxford Book of Modern Australian Verse 1996; (p. 137-138)
Layers of Pregnancy i "Under eagle worlds each fixed in place", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 209) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 21) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 9) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 16) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 372)
Strangler Fig i "I glory centenially slow-", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 21) The Sydney Review , April no. 30 1991; (p. 6) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 9) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 17) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 372-373)
Insect Mating Flight i "Iridescent in accord, clear wings", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 210) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 21) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 9) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 18)
Two Dogs i "Enchantment creek underbank pollen, are the stiff scents he makes,", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 211) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 21) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 9) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 19) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 373) Doggerel : Poems about Dogs 2003; (p. 163)
— Appears in: Verschollen : Ausgewählte Gedichte 2008;
Cockspur Bush i "I am lived. I am died.", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 212) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 21) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 9) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 20) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 374) Les Murray 2001-;
— Appears in: Ein ganz gewohnlicher Regenbogen : Gedichte 1996; (p. 126)
Lyre Bird Lyrebird i "Liar made of leaf-litter, quivering ribby in shim,", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 213) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 21) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 9) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 21) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 374) New Selected Poems 1998; (p. 140)
Shoal i "Eye-and-eye eye an eye", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 214) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 21) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 9) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 22) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 375) New Selected Poems 1998; (p. 141)
Prehistory of Air i "Fish, in their every body", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 215) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 21) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 9) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 23) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 375)
The Gods i "There is no Reynard fox. Just foxes.", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 216) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 21) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 9) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 24) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 376)
Cattle Ancestor i "Darrambawli and all his wives, they came feeding from the south east", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 217) Southern Review , November vol. 23 no. 3 1990; (p. 270) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 22) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 10) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 25) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 377)
— Appears in: Holy Cows 2006; (p. 50-51)
Mollusc i "By its nobship sailing upside down,", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 218) Southern Review , November vol. 23 no. 3 1990; (p. 271) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 22) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 10) Westerly , Winter vol. 37 no. 2 1992; (p. 56) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 26)
— Appears in: Ein ganz gewohnlicher Regenbogen : Gedichte 1996; (p. 129) Learning Human : New Selected Poems 2001; (p. 114)
Cattle Egret i "Our sleep-slow compeers, red and dun,", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 219) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 22) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 10) The Bulletin , 15 September vol. 114 no. 5837 1992; (p. 98) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 27) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 378)
— Appears in: Ein ganz gewohnlicher Regenbogen : Gedichte 1996; (p. 131) Holy Cows 2006; (p. 54-55)
The Snake's Heat Organ The Snake's Heat Organism i "Earth after sun is slow burn", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 220) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 22) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 10) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 28) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 379) Selected Poems 2007; (p. 137)
— Appears in: Ein ganz gewohnlicher Regenbogen : Gedichte 1996; (p. 127)
Great Bole i "Needing to soil point", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 221) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 22) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 10) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 29) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 379-380)
Echidna i "Crumpled in coign I was milk-tufted with my sucking [suckling]", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 222) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 22) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 10) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 30) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 381) New Selected Poems 1998; (p. 144)
Yard Horse i "Ripple, pond, liftoff fly. Unlid the outswallowing snorter", Les Murray , 1990 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Paris Review , no. 117 1990; (p. 223) The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 22) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 10) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 31) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 381) Selected Poems 2007; (p. 138)
The Masses i "The masses encroach on all of bare, and grow", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 23) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 11) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 33) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 382-383)
That Evolution Proceeds by Charity and Faith i "Not bowing, but a full thrown back upreach", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 23) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 11) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 34) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 383)
Queen Butterfly i "In his frenzy to use", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 23) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 11) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 35) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 383)
Pigs i "Us all on sore cement was we.", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 23) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 11) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 36) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 384) The Oxford Book of Modern Australian Verse 1996; (p. 137) Les Murray 2001-;
MeMeMe i "Present and still present don't yet add up to time", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 23) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 11) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 38) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 386)
Puss i "I permit myself to be", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 23) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 11) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 39) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 386)
— Appears in: Ein ganz gewohnlicher Regenbogen : Gedichte 1996; (p. 133) Verschollen : Ausgewählte Gedichte 2008;
Shellback Tick i "Match-head of groins", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 23) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 11) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 40) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 387) New Selected Poems 1998; (p. 147) New Selected Poems 2000; (p. 152)
Cell DNA i "I am the singular", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 23) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 11) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 41) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 387-388) New Selected Poems 1998; (p. 148) New Selected Poems 2000; (p. 153)
— Appears in: Ein ganz gewohnlicher Regenbogen : Gedichte 1996; (p. 134) Learning Human : New Selected Poems 2001; (p. 117-118)
Sunflowers i "I am ever fresh cells who keep on knowing my name", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 23) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 11) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 42) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 388-389)
Goose to Donkey i "My big friend, I bow help;", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 23) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 11) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 43) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 389) New Selected Poems 1998; (p. 149) New Selected Poems 2000; (p. 154)
— Appears in: Ein ganz gewohnlicher Regenbogen : Gedichte 1996; (p. 135) Learning Human : New Selected Poems 2001; (p. 118)
Spermaceti i "I sound my sight, and flexing skeletons eddy", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 24) Voices , Winter vol. 1 no. 2 1991; (p. 73) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 12) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 44) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 389-390) Ein ganz gewohnlicher Regenbogen : Gedichte 1996; (p. 136)
— Appears in: Ein ganz gewohnlicher Regenbogen : Gedichte 1996; (p. 137) Learning Human : New Selected Poems 2001; (p. 118-119)
Honey Cycle i "Grisaille of gristle lights, in a high eye of cells,", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 24) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 12) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 45) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 390)
The Dragon i "It was almost not born.", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 24) Voices , Autumn vol. 1 no. 1 1991; (p. 50) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 12) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 46) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 391)
Animal Nativity i "The Iliad of peace began", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 24) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 12) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 47) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 392) Little Book of Christmas 2007; (p. 7)
— Appears in: Ein ganz gewohnlicher Regenbogen : Gedichte 1996; (p. 138)
Stone Fruit i "I appear from the inner world, singular and many, I am", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 24) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 12) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 48) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 392-393)
— Appears in: Ein ganz gewohnlicher Regenbogen : Gedichte 1996; (p. 139)
Deer on the Wet Hills i "As anywhere beyond the world", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 24) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 12) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 49) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 393)
Raven, Sotto Voce i "Stalk's so unlike every other flight, or walk", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 24) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 12) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 50) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 394)
Cuttlefish i "Spacefarers past living planetfall", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 24) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 12) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 51) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 394)
Migratory i "I am the nest that comes and goes,", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 24) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 12) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 52) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 395) New Selected Poems 1998; (p. 151) New Selected Poems 2000; (p. 156)
— Appears in: Ein ganz gewohnlicher Regenbogen : Gedichte 1996; (p. 140) Learning Human : New Selected Poems 2001; (p. 119)
From Where We Live on Presence i "A human is a comet streamed in language far down time; no other", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 24) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 12) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 53) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 395-396)
Possum's Nocturnal Day i "The fire-limbed Only One", Les Murray , 1991 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Adelaide Review , March no. 86 1991; (p. 24) The Sydney Review , August no. 45 1992; (p. 12) Translations from the Natural World 1992; (p. 54) Collected Poems 1994; (p. 396)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Translations from the Natural World Les Murray , Paddington : Isabella Press , 1992 Z208589 1992 selected work poetry Translations from the Natural World, Les Murray's new collection of poems, is, like all his work, rich in inventiveness, perception, and a rare delight in the mimetic powers of language. Its centerpiece is 'Presence', a sequence of forty 'translations from the natural world' about a variety of natural settings and their amazing denizens. Lyre birds, honeycombs, sea lions, cuttlefish, and possums all act as spurs to Murray's protean talents for description and imitation. As Lachlan MacKinnon wrote in The Times Literary Supplement, 'These poems, a grand tour of the given, are a great hymn to the particularities in which God's creative generosity is expressed, and they will be widely enjoyed and admired. Their technical and linguistic largesse confirms . . . that Les Murray is one of the very finest poets in whom the English language is now at work.' (Libraries Australia) Paddington : Isabella Press , 1992 pg. 13-54
    Note: Here the sequence appears without "Bats' Ultrasound".
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Collected Poems Les Murray , Port Melbourne : Heinemann Australia , 1994 Z422024 1994 selected work poetry Port Melbourne : Heinemann Australia , 1994 pg. 371-406
    Note: Here the sequence appears without "Insect Mating Flight" and "Mother Sea Lion" but with the addition of "Bats' Ultrasound".
VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()

Works about this Work

Les Murray: Ancient and Modern David McCooey , 2024 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Cambridge Companion to Australian Poetry 2024; (p. 183-196)

'The chapter attends to Les Murray’s fusion of ancient and modern frameworks, forms and, subject matter. It provides an analysis of “The Buladelah-Taree Holiday Cycle” in light of his desire to draw together the three strands he viewed as shaping Australian culture: Aboriginal, rural, and urban. The chapter also discusses Murray’s formal inventiveness and comic playfulness with language, and his interest in the relationship between poetry and the divine. The chapter reads Murray’s self-definition as an outsider in light of his valuing of a pastoral-georgic tradition and a focus on subjects and settings beyond the metropolitan. The chapter argues that while Murray engaged with the vernacular and was anti-modernist in outlook, his style is, nevertheless, sophisticated and neo-modernist in its technical innovation.'

Source: Abstract
Fusion and Translation : Les Murray's Australia Ashok Bery , 2007 single work criticism
— Appears in: Cultural Translation and Postcolonial Poetry 2007; (p. 51-73)
Unnatural Relations? : Language and Nature in the Poetry of Mark Doty and Les Murray Hugh Dunkerley , 2001 single work criticism
— Appears in: ISLE : Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment , Winter vol. 8 no. 1 2001; (p. 73-82) Examines the ways in which the American poet, Mark Doty, and the Australian, Les Murray have "attempted to use language to speak for or about nature". Dunkerley incorporates into this examination a discussion of post-structuralist ideas on the relationship between between language and reality .
Les Murray's "Presence Sequence" Robert Crawford , 1997 single work criticism
— Appears in: Counterbalancing Light : Essays on the Poetry of Les Murray 1997; (p. 54-68)
Fusion and Translation : Les Murray's Australia Ashok Bery , 2007 single work criticism
— Appears in: Cultural Translation and Postcolonial Poetry 2007; (p. 51-73)
Les Murray's "Presence Sequence" Robert Crawford , 1997 single work criticism
— Appears in: Counterbalancing Light : Essays on the Poetry of Les Murray 1997; (p. 54-68)
Unnatural Relations? : Language and Nature in the Poetry of Mark Doty and Les Murray Hugh Dunkerley , 2001 single work criticism
— Appears in: ISLE : Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment , Winter vol. 8 no. 1 2001; (p. 73-82) Examines the ways in which the American poet, Mark Doty, and the Australian, Les Murray have "attempted to use language to speak for or about nature". Dunkerley incorporates into this examination a discussion of post-structuralist ideas on the relationship between between language and reality .
Les Murray: Ancient and Modern David McCooey , 2024 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Cambridge Companion to Australian Poetry 2024; (p. 183-196)

'The chapter attends to Les Murray’s fusion of ancient and modern frameworks, forms and, subject matter. It provides an analysis of “The Buladelah-Taree Holiday Cycle” in light of his desire to draw together the three strands he viewed as shaping Australian culture: Aboriginal, rural, and urban. The chapter also discusses Murray’s formal inventiveness and comic playfulness with language, and his interest in the relationship between poetry and the divine. The chapter reads Murray’s self-definition as an outsider in light of his valuing of a pastoral-georgic tradition and a focus on subjects and settings beyond the metropolitan. The chapter argues that while Murray engaged with the vernacular and was anti-modernist in outlook, his style is, nevertheless, sophisticated and neo-modernist in its technical innovation.'

Source: Abstract
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (4)
Last amended 27 Jun 2006 12:37:00
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