y separately published work icon Their Stories, Our History : Poems selected work   poetry   interview  
Issue Details: First known date: 2003... 2003 Their Stories, Our History : Poems
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Peter Gebhardt's poems lie at the controversial intersection of poetry, history, politics and spirituality. They confront issues of invasion and dispossession, of brutality and genocide, that underlie relations between white and indigenous Australians over the last two hundred years.

'Part advocate, part poet—what Torres Strait Islanders call a 'speech fighter'—Peter Gebhardt graphically 'names the shame' in poems that pit the oral tradition of indigenous Australians against those who deny the ugliness of colonisation. Disturbing images of death, massacre and murder, in an ancient land of stark beauty, challenge the reader to confront and recognise what Aboriginal leader Pat Dodson in his foreword calls the story of dispossession, disaster and despair that engulfed indigenous communities.

'Peter Gebhardt's poems are introduced by a discussion between the poet and the distinguished author and educator Bernard Smith, whose 1980 Boyer Lectures The Spectre of Truganini challenged historians to grapple with the ugliness of white colonisation, hitherto documented only by poets, novelists, filmmakers and painters. Together poet and author explore the historical events underlying.the poems, the issues the poems themselves raise and their resonance in the poet's personal experience.

'As Professor Donald Markwell observes in his afterword, Peter Gebhardt's poems show us again the 'moral edge' of the arts and their power to stir our minds, memories and social conscience. Only by confronting the past can white and indigenous Australians forge a better future. Their stories, our history is one poet's response to the process of Reconciliation.' (Publication summary)
 

Notes

  • Dedication: To Paul Collis (It's hard being black, mate') and to William Deane who kept the historical conscience alive.
  • Dedication: In memory of our ancestors who were shot and burnt here. R.I.P. Mistake Creek. (Back cover).

Contents

* Contents derived from the Wahroonga, Hornsby area, Sydney Northern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales,:The Helicon Press , 2003 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Prologue, Clare Pullar (interviewer), single work interview
'This conversation between Peter Gebhardt and Bernard Smith was recorded at Trinity College at The University of Melbourne, Friday 17 August 2001 after lunch and a nice glass of red. It was moderated and introduced by Clare Pullar.'
(p. 15-35)
Naming Day, January 26th 1788i"With a volley of words.", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 37)
No Apologyi"It's hard to cry for others,", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 38)
Terra Nulliusi"'Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again,'", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 39)
Manacle Cave, Great Keppel Islandi"Chained on the rocks.", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 40-41)
The Orphanagei"Old photographs line the walls :", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 42)
Leave Her for the Dingoes. . .'i"'Don't waste another shot'", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 43)
Man in a Landscapei"It's a different geography", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 47)
'I Grew up Running'i"I grew up running", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 48)
Butter Patsi"The separator had shut down into silvered silence:", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 49)
Protector Robinson Reportsi"Mapped with an ancient metaphysic,", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 50)
Lake Victoriai"The bones and stones chatter in banter,", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 51)
Exchangei"Why is a clock on the sand-blown shore?", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 54)
Protectoratei"We acted as hosts:", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 57)
The Flood : Bourkei"That year there was a burial", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 58)
Wateri"Stockyard Creek, Faithfull's Creek", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 59)
Two Paintingsi"It's and unfinished tapestry,", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 62)
Bay of Martyrsi"The bones are singing ing the sands,", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 65)
The Blue Water Lilyi"After the rains", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 66)
Cedar Chesti"Rocks and rivers", Peter Gebhardt , single work poetry (p. 67)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

Prologue Clare Pullar (interviewer), 2003 single work interview
— Appears in: Their Stories, Our History : Poems 2003; (p. 15-35)
'This conversation between Peter Gebhardt and Bernard Smith was recorded at Trinity College at The University of Melbourne, Friday 17 August 2001 after lunch and a nice glass of red. It was moderated and introduced by Clare Pullar.'
A Poet's Appeal to His Unhearing Countrymen Martin Flanagan , 2003 single work biography
— Appears in: The Age , 2 June 2003; (p. 2)
Untitled Steven Gome , 2003 single work review
— Appears in: Eureka Street , July-August vol. 13 no. 6 2003; (p. 21)

— Review of Their Stories, Our History : Poems Peter Gebhardt , 2003 selected work poetry interview
Untitled Steven Gome , 2003 single work review
— Appears in: Eureka Street , July-August vol. 13 no. 6 2003; (p. 21)

— Review of Their Stories, Our History : Poems Peter Gebhardt , 2003 selected work poetry interview
A Poet's Appeal to His Unhearing Countrymen Martin Flanagan , 2003 single work biography
— Appears in: The Age , 2 June 2003; (p. 2)
Prologue Clare Pullar (interviewer), 2003 single work interview
— Appears in: Their Stories, Our History : Poems 2003; (p. 15-35)
'This conversation between Peter Gebhardt and Bernard Smith was recorded at Trinity College at The University of Melbourne, Friday 17 August 2001 after lunch and a nice glass of red. It was moderated and introduced by Clare Pullar.'
Last amended 11 Jun 2018 11:31:32
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