Cirrus

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Notes

'Sweet William' is one of seven poems from The Darkening Ecliptic that was cited during the Angry Penguins obscenity trial. The trial was conducted in Adelaide in September 1944. Although the poem can be understood to contain allusions to rape, Max Harris testifed that the poem's intent was to depict a man 'at conflict with himself, without reference to anything else beside his mental condition'.

(Source for Harris' testimony: The Ern Malley Affair by Michael Heyward. St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, 1993)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Appears in:

y Angry Penguins no. [6] Autumn 1944 Z600031 1944 periodical issue 1944
(
1944
)
pg. 11
Appears in:

y The Darkening Ecliptic 'Ern Malley' , Melbourne : Reed and Harris , 1944 Z339108 1944 collected work poetry (taught in 4 units) Melbourne : Reed and Harris , 1944
(
1944
)
pg. 19
Appears in:

y The Penguin Book of Modern Australian Poetry John Tranter (editor), Philip Mead (editor), Ringwood : Penguin , 1991 Z151302 1991 anthology poetry Ringwood : Penguin , 1991
(
1991
)
pg. 87-88
Appears in:

y The Age 28 August 1993 Z596919 1993 newspaper issue 1993
(
1993
)
pg. 7 Section: Saturday Extra
Appears in:

y Jacket no. 17 June 2002 Z1040748 2002 periodical issue Special Hoax Issue 2002
(
2002
)