Issue Details: First known date: 2008... 2008 Over There : Poems from Singapore and Australia
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Curated by two of the foremost literary figures of their generation, the ground-breaking Singapore-Australia anthology of poetry brings together for the first time the contemporary work of the finest poets at work in Singapore and Australia today. The anthology will feature a fresh selection of established as well as previously unreleased work from writers such as Edwin Thumboo and Cyril Wong from Singapore, and Dorothy Porter and Kevin Hart from Australia. Over 20 writers from each territory will be featured, representing the diverse and interesting voices currently at play in both territories, and creating an ongoing discourse between the exciting literary cultures of the two Pacific neighbours. The anthology ranges across many themes: from an ever-shifting sense of cultural, urban and personal identity to place, politics, sex, religion and more, with clear resonances and connections bridging the two territories. The book will be made available in both territories, marking the first time that a major Singaporean literary anthology is released to the wider Australian market.' [Source: Publisher's press release at http://www.ethosbooks.com.sg/store/images/new_titles/OverThere_PressRelease.pdf]

Notes

  • Poems in English, includes poems translated from Arabic and Chinese.
  • Launched Friday 6 December, 2007 at Earshot Café, The Arts House, Singapore. The Australian launch took place Thursday March 6, 2008 at the Adelaide Writers' Week.
  • Contents indexed selectively.

Contents

* Contents derived from the
c
Singapore,
c
Southeast Asia, South and East Asia, Asia,
:
Ethos Books , 2008 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
'Listening' to Michael Jackson in Tehrani"Smuggled across the fierce chasm", Ali Alizadeh , single work poetry (p. 12-14)
Don't Light the Candlesi"Don't light the candles, Shahrazad", Yahia as-Samawi , Eva Sallis (translator), single work poetry (p. 15--16)
Variations On My Clay Heartstringsi"Here I am, spreading fresh water, plaintive songs,", Yahia as-Samawi , Eva Sallis (translator), single work poetry (p. 16-17)
The Domesticity of Giraffesi"She languorously swings her tongue", Judith Beveridge , single work poetry (p. 18-19)
To the Islandsi"I will use the sound of wind and the splash", Judith Beveridge , single work poetry (p. 19-21)
The Sharki"We heard the creaking clutch of the crank", Judith Beveridge , single work poetry (p. 21)
Self-Portrait On Lighti"A self-portrait acts as chance.", Javant Biarujia , single work poetry (p. 22-23)
Ghost of Desirei"The courage of your touch, disobedient to the cult of youth:", Javant Biarujia , single work poetry (p. 23-24)
Vertigoi"All morning, single drops of rain broke with single tones.", Judith Bishop , single work poetry (p. 25-26)
Sorreto Da Quattro Angelii"The fine craft of their hands", Judith Bishop , single work poetry (p. 26-27)
Thanatosi"A bee, its body glued by surface", Judith Bishop , single work poetry (p. 28)
Stonei"grief as smooth", Merlinda Bobis , single work poetry (p. 29-31)
Gapobatostonei"gapobatostonegapobatostonegapobatostonegapobatostonegapobatostone", Merlinda Bobis , single work poetry (p. 30)
The Lightning In the Orchardi"Applelife we shaed it", Peter Boyle , single work poetry (p. 32-33)
On Invoking the Goddessi"She is numbering the memory stones and the bright objects", Peter Boyle , single work poetry (p. 33-34)
Burial Chamberi"They come drifting towards us as stars come drifting across", Peter Boyle , single work poetry (p. 34-35)
Paralysis (1955)i"Laid out flat", Peter Boyle , single work poetry (p. 35)
The Gapi"On the pond path by Cambell's", David Brooks , single work poetry (p. 36)
Almost Winteri"It is there", David Brooks , single work poetry (p. 37)
Note: Dedication: for Jin Song-ping
Balkani"She's still at the age", David Brooks , single work poetry (p. 38)

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Works about this Work

Siobhan Hodge Reviews Over There : Poems from Singapore and Australia Siobhan Hodge , 2010 single work review
— Appears in: Cordite Poetry Review , August vol. 33 no. 2010;

— Review of Over There : Poems from Singapore and Australia 2008 anthology poetry
Adam Aitken Interviews Alvin Pang and John Kinsella Adam Aitken (interviewer), 2009 single work interview
— Appears in: Mascara Literary Review , June no. 5 2009;
Readers looking for cross-literary collaboration between Singapore and Australia will find Over There: Poems from Singapore and Australia, a valuable addition to their poetry library. How do we name and represent the other? What does it mean to poeticise other cultures whose territories are not necessarily close enough for us to identify with? Or is it perfectly satisfying to find a common humanity that crosses national boundaries? Over There provides answers to all these questions and more. With a growing sense of the need to understand our Asian neighbours in a deep way that goes beyond touristic stereotypes, I was pleased to discover that there existed a collection that brought together the poetries of Singapore and Australia. I was hoping to find that cultural differences between Australia and Singapore produce a synergy between two poetries, and for me, this collection stimulates thinking about how national literary canons construct and defend certain perceptions of nationhood and racial/ethnic identity in an era of globalisation and cross-border desemination. If the local is global and vice versa, how does the poetry in this volume transcend the particular provincialisms of our respective literary worlds? What does it mean in to be an "Australian" or a "Singaporean" poet? What does it mean to be nomadic in the era of globalised cultural exchange?
Poetry Review Essay Shane McCauley , 2009 single work review
— Appears in: Indigo , Summer no. 3 2009; (p. 188-195)

— Review of The Roof Milkers Annamaria Weldon , 2008 selected work poetry ; Cleanskin Megan McKinlay , 2007 selected work poetry ; Dance of Light : With Sculptures and Nature and Jenny De Garis in Piney Lakes Jenny De Garis , 2007 selected work poetry ; Dona Juanita and the Love of Boys : A Verse Novel Gabrielle Everall , 2007 single work novel ; In Whatever Voice : Poems Janet Jackson , 2007 selected work poetry ; It Feels Like Disbelief Paul Hetherington , 2007 selected work poetry ; Lines in the Sand : New Writing from Western Australia 2008 anthology poetry short story prose ; Over There : Poems from Singapore and Australia 2008 anthology poetry
Collecting the Contemporary : Australian Poetry Anthologies in the 'Noughties' Cameron Fuller , 2008 single work criticism
— Appears in: Poems in Perspex : Max Harris Poetry Award 2007 2008; (p. 112-118)
Beyond Colloquial Prowesses : Singapore-Australia Anthology Let Down by Lack of Dialogue between Cultures Gwee Li Sui , 2008 single work review
— Appears in: Quarterly Literary Review Singapore , April vol. 7 no. 2 2008;

— Review of Over There : Poems from Singapore and Australia 2008 anthology poetry
Illuminating Linguistic Neighbourliness Peter Pierce , 2008 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 5 July 2008; (p. 18)

— Review of Over There : Poems from Singapore and Australia 2008 anthology poetry
Making the Leap : Australian Poetry 2007-2008 Meriel Griffiths , 2008 single work review
— Appears in: Westerly , November vol. 53 no. 2008; (p. 130-145)

— Review of Mr Wittgenstein's Lion Kevin Brophy , 2007 selected work poetry ; Seriatim Geoff Page , 2007 selected work poetry ; Transit Mike Ladd , 2007 selected work poetry ; I Could Be Rain Jennifer Kornberger , 2007 selected work poetry ; Shades of the Sublime and Beautiful John Kinsella , 2008 selected work poetry ; Over There : Poems from Singapore and Australia 2008 anthology poetry ; Navigation Judy Johnson , 2007 selected work poetry ; Selected Poems Les Murray , 1986 selected work poetry ; Elsewhere John Mateer , 2007 selected work poetry ; Revolving Days : Selected Poems David Malouf , 2008 selected work poetry ; Two Kinds of Silence Kathryn Lomer , 2007 selected work poetry ; The Best Australian Poems 2007 2007 anthology poetry ; The Best Australian Poetry 2007 2007 anthology poetry ; Scar Revision Tracy Ryan , 2008 selected work poetry
Beyond Colloquial Prowesses : Singapore-Australia Anthology Let Down by Lack of Dialogue between Cultures Gwee Li Sui , 2008 single work review
— Appears in: Quarterly Literary Review Singapore , April vol. 7 no. 2 2008;

— Review of Over There : Poems from Singapore and Australia 2008 anthology poetry
Poetry Review Essay Shane McCauley , 2009 single work review
— Appears in: Indigo , Summer no. 3 2009; (p. 188-195)

— Review of The Roof Milkers Annamaria Weldon , 2008 selected work poetry ; Cleanskin Megan McKinlay , 2007 selected work poetry ; Dance of Light : With Sculptures and Nature and Jenny De Garis in Piney Lakes Jenny De Garis , 2007 selected work poetry ; Dona Juanita and the Love of Boys : A Verse Novel Gabrielle Everall , 2007 single work novel ; In Whatever Voice : Poems Janet Jackson , 2007 selected work poetry ; It Feels Like Disbelief Paul Hetherington , 2007 selected work poetry ; Lines in the Sand : New Writing from Western Australia 2008 anthology poetry short story prose ; Over There : Poems from Singapore and Australia 2008 anthology poetry
Siobhan Hodge Reviews Over There : Poems from Singapore and Australia Siobhan Hodge , 2010 single work review
— Appears in: Cordite Poetry Review , August vol. 33 no. 2010;

— Review of Over There : Poems from Singapore and Australia 2008 anthology poetry
Adam Aitken Interviews Alvin Pang and John Kinsella Adam Aitken (interviewer), 2009 single work interview
— Appears in: Mascara Literary Review , June no. 5 2009;
Readers looking for cross-literary collaboration between Singapore and Australia will find Over There: Poems from Singapore and Australia, a valuable addition to their poetry library. How do we name and represent the other? What does it mean to poeticise other cultures whose territories are not necessarily close enough for us to identify with? Or is it perfectly satisfying to find a common humanity that crosses national boundaries? Over There provides answers to all these questions and more. With a growing sense of the need to understand our Asian neighbours in a deep way that goes beyond touristic stereotypes, I was pleased to discover that there existed a collection that brought together the poetries of Singapore and Australia. I was hoping to find that cultural differences between Australia and Singapore produce a synergy between two poetries, and for me, this collection stimulates thinking about how national literary canons construct and defend certain perceptions of nationhood and racial/ethnic identity in an era of globalisation and cross-border desemination. If the local is global and vice versa, how does the poetry in this volume transcend the particular provincialisms of our respective literary worlds? What does it mean in to be an "Australian" or a "Singaporean" poet? What does it mean to be nomadic in the era of globalised cultural exchange?
Collecting the Contemporary : Australian Poetry Anthologies in the 'Noughties' Cameron Fuller , 2008 single work criticism
— Appears in: Poems in Perspex : Max Harris Poetry Award 2007 2008; (p. 112-118)
Last amended 13 May 2009 14:01:12
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