Comments for Currajah

Comment on Lisa Greenaway : On Going Down Swinging No. 30 by Jen Jewel Brown

Jen Jewel Brown — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:08:51 +0000

Gangbusters guys, sounds terrific. Haooy Birthday you crazy diamond, and thanks to all who made you over the years xxxJen

Comment on Queensland Poetry Festival : program by Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:15:18 +0000

Had been looking at the program myself, and thinking ‘it looks wonderful’. Unfortunately, I’m as broke as usual.

Comment on Queensland Poetry Festival : program by Graham Nunn

Graham Nunn — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:00:18 +0000

It is going to be massive!

Comment on Islet : Publication opportunity for emerging writers and visual artists by Ralph

Ralph — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:18:50 +0000

yes, a good opportunity. decent payments to contributors too.

Comment on Islet : Publication opportunity for emerging writers and visual artists by Lynn

Lynn — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:09:09 +0000

It’s good to find this and learn that contests are going on all over the world.

Lynn
http://www.writeradvice.com
Author of You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers

Comment on Sarah Day at Fullers Bookshop (Hobart), tomorrow by Write Mom

Write Mom — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:29:02 +0000

Wheel-inspired travel…

I found your entry interesting thus I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog …

Comment on The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards by Ralph

Ralph — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:06:36 +0000

I take it back. And how wonderful, Lorraine – congratulations!

Comment on The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards by Lorraine Marwood

Lorraine Marwood — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:34:03 +0000

Ah Ralph, but. there is poetry- my short-listed book in the children’s section ‘Star jumps’ is a verse novel! So wonderful that children’s and YA books get recognised in such an award as this at long last.

Lorraine

Comment on Graeme Calder at Fullers Bookshop, Hobart : 2pm today by Ralph

Ralph — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:56:04 +0000

Thanks Paige.

Comment on Graeme Calder at Fullers Bookshop, Hobart : 2pm today by Paige Turner

Paige Turner — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:31:46 +0000

Hello Ralph,
here’s a link to a podcast of an interview I did with Graeme about the Mairremmener people. This will also go to air tomorrow night (Tuesday 29th of June) on Edge Radio 99.3fm at 6pm on The Book Show.

http://paigelovesbooks.blogspot.com/2010/06/podcast-graeme-calder-talking-about.html

Comment on Authors clash over Booker favourite’s attack on ‘junk’ by Ralph

Ralph — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:51:03 +0000

True, Meika.
Never been a great Courtney fan, I’m afraid. [James Bradley has some interesting thoughts at http://cityoftongues.com/2010/06/10/peter-carey-an-inane-literary-snob/

Comment on Authors clash over Booker favourite’s attack on ‘junk’ by meika

meika — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:23:02 +0000

Pot calling kettle black.

Courtney, Carey and Rushdie, Wheldon et al are a cohort who all come out of marketing and advertising, they know how to sell to their niche markets as champions.

Comment on Growing content by Ralph

Ralph — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 11:21:06 +0000

Thanks Ivy, but it’s not where I want to be. Lost the layout to my previous blog and I’m hunting for something new. Might take time. How are things?

Comment on Growing content by Ivy

Ivy — Mon, 31 May 2010 22:28:23 +0000

Love the new layout, Ralph.

Comment on $2000 Place and Experience Poetry Prize by Ralph

Ralph — Sat, 29 May 2010 04:15:32 +0000

Hello Robyn, you can download an entry from the website for Fullers Bookshop at http://www.fullersbookshop.com.au/

Cheers,

Ralph

Comment on $2000 Place and Experience Poetry Prize by Robyn Tilley

Robyn Tilley — Sat, 29 May 2010 03:04:13 +0000

I can’t find the entry form for this competition. Please help.

Comment on A few days with Salt on the Tongue, Pt 1 by Ralph

Ralph — Sun, 02 May 2010 04:27:17 +0000

Yes, I’ve spoken to Anne since she returned home, she said she enjoyed herself immensely.

Comment on A few days with Salt on the Tongue, Pt 1 by Graham Nunn

Graham Nunn — Sat, 01 May 2010 00:28:19 +0000

Thanks for reposting this Ralph! Was a great weekend,

Graham

Comment on Conversations by Ralph

Ralph — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:34:40 +0000

fuelled by a very special drop of whiskey

Comment on Conversations by Mudlark

Mudlark — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:45:59 +0000

What a kak Hay and Flanagan are! Wish I’d been there as a fly on the wall

Comment on $2000 Place and Experience Poetry Prize by Ralph

Ralph — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 22:42:22 +0000

Sorry Jeff, you’re right – just checked Island’s site. We’ll get the Writers’ Centre info changed, it’s very misleading.

Comment on $2000 Place and Experience Poetry Prize by Jeff Klooger

Jeff Klooger — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:09:12 +0000

I believe there is an entry fee of $10.

Comment on Zombie 2.0 by Ivy

Ivy — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:44:52 +0000

There were so many good poems to choose from and difficult to go from almost 400 pieces to the 40 or so for this issue — really all the poets and writers make me look good.

Comment on Zombie 2.0 by Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 01:29:25 +0000

Congratulations Ivy, looks a strong issue, have read Ashley Capes’ poem and dipped into the interview with Barry Scott.

Comment on Zombie 2.0 by Ivy

Ivy — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:36:01 +0000

Whee! Thanks, Ralph.

Comment on Jena Woodhouse : two poems by Donna

Donna — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:40:09 +0000

Beautiful word images so simple and sad.

Comment on Republic Readings, Sunday 7th March by Ivy

Ivy — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:41:02 +0000

So lovely to see everyone on here… Thanks, Ralph.

Comment on The poetry of self-promotion by Ralph

Ralph — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:03:40 +0000

Sounds interesting, shall take a look – thanks Jen

Comment on The poetry of self-promotion by How about radical success? « overland literary journal

How about radical success? « overland literary journal — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:51:14 +0000

[...] piece by US academic and poet Joshua Corey (spotted via Currajah blog)on poetry, institutional support, gatekeepers, and the relationship between what we make and how we [...]

Comment on The poetry of self-promotion by jenjen

jenjen — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:15:09 +0000

thanks for sharing this - have thrown some responses up on overland for discussion

Comment on Out from Otoliths—Paul Siegell’s ‘wild life rifle fire’ by Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:34:09 +0000

you’re welcome Paul

Comment on Out from Otoliths—Paul Siegell’s ‘wild life rifle fire’ by paul siegell

paul siegell — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:53:45 +0000

thanks so much for this! really appreciate it!

Comment on Chris Brown : ‘away from home’ by Ralph

Ralph — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:57:30 +0000

Many thanks Nathan.

It’s a contribution for fr41 [June/July], it’ll go up on the website eventually but I’ve temporarily lost access to it.

Comment on Chris Brown : ‘away from home’ by nathan curnow

nathan curnow — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 09:01:55 +0000

Hi Ralph… thanks for posting this.

Chris, I really like it! the strangeness of another place and seeing it with fresh eyes. what captures the attention. the odd observations/juxtapositions etc. and i really like them as snippets. very smart/cool…

…what to feed the children
death or fairytales…

love it!

Comment on Absence of verse disrupts our rhythm by Bede Moloney

Bede Moloney — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:12:34 +0000

This ‘absence of verse” is still bugging me. And in another way I see

Wonderful Amazing Grace

The wider the land spread with light and shallows
So the depths of feelings struggle
And as tragedy is ever common
Blighting a land where hope chucks up a wrong ‘un
The call of God prevails
At the car crash scene filled with crushed entrails
Then enough of horror, life goes on
No need for native poetry, just a simple song
Sung at the funeral, sung slow paced
The moving words of Amazing Grace.

Comment on Brilliance, silence, courage by JewelMarkt

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Comment on john west (an edited note from gm) by Carolyn Cordon

Carolyn Cordon — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:46:03 +0000

I am deeply saddened that Australia has lost one of our famous poets. John was a great person too, giving voice to the disenfranchised. Vale John.

Comment on Absence of verse disrupts our rhythm by Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:46:25 +0000

thanks for this, Bede. each to his own, eh.

Comment on Absence of verse disrupts our rhythm by Bede Moloney

Bede Moloney — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:07:41 +0000

This poem might contribute something to the debate. Or not.

Pull your head in, bloke!

Hey you poet, smitten by your poetical words
Just keep ‘em simple, don’t get high falutin’
And none of this god stuff, and them like issues
And don’t write about what’s troubling you!
Don’t be a galoot!
None of this vulnerability; give it the boot
No humanist piddle if you please
Obscure discordant cut up, prose we permit
And references to pagan gods, hid in verse
By meticulous minds for metaphor, we like
‘Coz we’re a bit arty farty down under after all
And we’re keen to expand our cultural cringe.
Lyrical poems are diseased words collected
By those pretentious, like that pansy Neilson
Down here, we read about our dearly departed
We look at arty pictures of funny dunnies,
And we like to gossip over the back yard fence
About the misadventures of our sporting heroes
(And our bookie from No Regrets got away
Just before Fat Coppers entered the fray
Sure he’s a crook and a little bit hard
But he’s a mate and something of a bard)
We like what happens down the local pub
And in the kitchen, and even a smart café
Bad relatives and most things mundane
C’mon celebrate our everyday
Life in the bush, and hard work in tough fields
Give us ordinary folk a real go
Celebrate our tolerance of what we fear different
Celebrate our ability to get on with the job
Celebrate us eating, and watching TV
Celebrate our frank views on you know what
Good poetry’s like a good Aussie pizza
Lashings of cheddar cheese informs a pizza base
Chopped pineapple and ham flim together in sync
And spiced cabana completes a sunstruck oeuvre
We believe in the poetry of conformity,
So;
Come by our house for a cuppa or two
Then write about the experience and print it
We’ll buy the book and give you hints
On how to write about our culture
And what to leave out

Comment on Pressure to perform can take a heavy toll by genevieve

genevieve — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:49:20 +0000

ooh thank you again!! happy new year!

Comment on Pressure to perform can take a heavy toll by Ralph

Ralph — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:47:06 +0000

Hello Genevieve – it’s at http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2006/nov/18/darkshadowscastbythesumme if you haven’t found it already.

Comment on Pressure to perform can take a heavy toll by genevieve

genevieve — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:10:00 +0000

Well noted, Ralph. But what a searing article
I have brothers who have played at subdistrict level, and it is true that the game has a fickleness to it that could certainly play with people’s heads at the top level. Brearley now a psychoanalyst – I’m going to look for that article. Thanks!

Comment on funeral arrangements, john west by Ralph

Ralph — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:46:16 +0000

Tasmanian Poetry Festival: Oct 2002

… Collections by Lyn Reeves, Stephen Johnstone, Martin R. Johnson and John West were launched during Saturday afternoon. Tim Thorne launched John West’s ‘All I Ever Wanted Was a Window’ [Pardalote Press], mentioning how he’d been pretty well hooked from the first poem of West’s he’d read. ‘So much so that the first opportunity I could, I invited John to take part in the Festival, a couple of years ago. When you live in a big city, there’s a need for a great volume of energy and compassion, though along with that comes a greater freedom to fail, to be a loser … demanding a compassionate attitude. This collections represents some of the most compassionate writing by poets and artists – those using language as their form – that I’ve read in recent years, yet it’s a writing which loses nothing in terms of skill and cleverness.’

West responded with a reference to his sense of interconnectedness with things Tasmanian. ‘People ask me, “Why Tasmania?” and I say because I have always had such great vibes, such warmth and love from you all down here! I email friends here daily, sometimes twice a day. I almost bought a house here some months ago, you can’t get more connected than that.’

Comment on funeral arrangements, john west by Ralph

Ralph — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:18:11 +0000

John West

‘Putting People to Bed’

Puddling around in the pad between Mr Johnson’s legs
I see as if for the first time in twenty years
what it is I do, cleaning the coated scrotum,
watching the bristels on his legs,
the random pattern of the bruises on his skin, my eyes catch sights
and my ears sweep sounds and my nose sponges up smells;
his frailty, his humility, his sorrow.

They lean towards me so I can peel away their clothes,
fibres oozing with the sweat of their afternoons;
I wipe their faces, wash teeth; they forget
between the two ticks of a clock but I remind them
that this is their bed, tell them that they live here now,
that I am a person in this house,
that they will never go to their own home now.

I feel their warmth through pyjamas, nighties,
touch the wet of mouths as I feed in pills;
I see men who wander corridors, line at doors
waiting for a bus or train to go home,
to go out to their job or the pub,
I hear them wondering about children,
I hear women asking ‘Who can stop that baby crying?’

I taught at school for a year then midnight flitted, next
a factory, then a lab assistant’s job, then this,
meeting these people, feeding and showering them,
putting them to bed, people with pockets filled
with the marble chips of dreams, the bluestone chunks of age,
dry sticks jammed into earth while my life spreads,
a paddock blowing green.

[June 2000]

Comment on funeral arrangements, john west by Ralph

Ralph — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:58:19 +0000

John West

FOR MAL MORGAN

‘The first week was the worst, waking up each
morning and remembering I was dying’
[Mal Morgan]

1.
Finally
I step into my car
and pull up outside your place,
knock
and meet your body
packed
with its handgrenades
of dying.

You’ve chosen badly, Mal,
you should have gone for something cleaner,
a deent heart attack or stroke, now you’re facing
all the sweaty little jigsaw bits of dying
that no-one thinks to mention, waking up
100 times a night, how it feels to lose
a pound of weight a day, the cramps, the way that time
flows like red-hot lave.

Yes,
you smoked,
but, I drink;
people who die old
have merely
picked their vices
carefully.

I begin on the subjects
that we have always talked about,
working as a pharmacist,
a nurse, Di’s paintings,
your shiny colour printer
but then it grows before me
that now
these are not your interests.

People ring,
catch taxi cabs to visit;
Di
is suddenly at home;
is the house
of someone who is dying
always so damn busy?

We part,
hugging
with all the awkwardness
of men.
I rush home
to scribble all this down,
running late for work,
running out of time.

2.
This is the poem
I didn’t write
last time,

it has the greyhound in it,
staring from the car
parked across the road

as I drove away,
it has the shapes that moved
but were not there

when I looked
as I lay along my couch
attempting

to listen
to Bach,
it’s the one with the line

‘All we own
is the taste in our mouths’,
the one containing

the terrible
wind-over-ice whistle
your cough didn’t have

when I saw you
three weeks
ago.

[Dec 1998]

Comment on funeral arrangements, john west by Ralph

Ralph — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:47:54 +0000

Girl Folding a Dishcloth

She lays it, doubled over
on the ledge above the sink
the way I do at home

and then she picks up a price list
for milk or cakes or pies
while the guy she works with

finishes making my coffee
and I consider her smile
at four o’clock

on this Friday afternoon
and then I think about the fan
which stands

at the end of every day
mercilessly blowing away
a million moments just like this.

J West, ‘Stuttering Towards Love’, [2000]

Comment on funeral arrangements, john west by Ralph

Ralph — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:37:08 +0000

Note from K:
I spoke in length this morning by phone re what John was achieving up to his death in the early hours of last Wednesday morning (25th November). He was feeling positive about life and his writing, he was planning a new collection and was looking forward to seeing his grand-daughter, Darcy for their weekly get together on the Wednesday evening. He had some good news back from the doctor after a colonoscopy and gastroscopy that there was nothing sinister apart from a hiatus hernia.

It is believed he had a massive heart attack, unfortunately, he was alone.

He was to turn 58 this Thursday 3rd December.

I’ve just gone through all the lovely books he has sent me over the years, some of his own work and other writers in the hope that I would be inspired, which I was and will continue to be. Almost all his dedications read ‘ to my amazing friend, thank you for your love’. I would like to send that dedication back to him hopefully via Garth Madsen at his funeral tomorrow.

The thing I loved about John is he wasn’t afraid to show fierce love for his loved ones and the world around him. We should all reflect and learn from his enormous heart and generosity.

Love,
K x

Comment on funeral arrangements, john west by Julianne Higgins- vasiliadis

Julianne Higgins- vasiliadis — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:46:28 +0000

John I won’t be in Chelsea Heights …..Now live too far from there, near where we started reading and workshopping, and bumping into eachother at the Safeways Delis! For You Westy!

“Undelivered Mail Returned To Sender! 15/11/2009″

Why this November’s Quadrant?
I handed over the $8.50.
To be Stunned, Stung
Unannounced Contents….
“I’ve Ridden Slipshod Over Mt Life”
Tucked up,
Neatly packaged…..

And I saw You again
for the first time, years back.
Low voiced, bashful……..as you read of
a man “dog-legging, and dog-legging, skirting outer obstacles, perhaps…..
…..when all you ever wanted was a window.”
30/11/2009

Comment on On blogging by Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:17:17 +0000

I remember you mentioning the possibilities for magazines of blog posts. I totally agree such possibilities exist, & can enliven a journal’s creativity.

And I don’t see much loss of energy, from where I sit – your coverage’s impressively wide-ranging and enthusiastic and a great read: many thanks.

Comment on On blogging by genevieve

genevieve — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:30:21 +0000

Ralph, you are often way ahead of me, I think we both cover things with varying degrees of energy. Mine has gone somewhere at the moment – don’t know where some of the things I did this year came from now, I am so tired. Thanks for all the nice links this year though!
Famous Reporter was pretty much the first Oz journal to publish pieces from blogs, too – I first found Martin Edmond thanks to you. See, you’re ahead of us all.

Comment on Vale Tatjana Lukic by Gordana Malic

Gordana Malic — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:12:56 +0000

SLOVO O RODU

Moje majke jedini brat Lujo objesio se
za vrijeme segrtovanja u nekoj kasabi

poslije ovog ludog cina
sve je islo naopako

sestra mu olga se razvela
sestra mu lucija nikad nije zanijela
naposlijetku moja mati mene rodila

iznad ognjista umjesto ikone
ne stari slika Lujina

meni ne oprastaju
sto nemam nesto vaznije
u gacama

vole me kad slazem
da se spremam
posjetit im brata

tada svaka sestra brizno skuplja
bogate darove bratu

sve te zavezljaje
ja cuvam
kao miraz

kad ih bude pun naramak
uteci cu

PRUGOM

Josipu, pred odlazak

Pod mojim ili tvojim prezorom? ne znamo
gdje ce nocas buknuti vatra
ali negdje hoce
strasni prasak od kojeg ce moje dijete
okupano cijelo namazano uljem pred spavanje
dobiti fras

i tvoje dijete naravno
na koje uopce ne mislim ovaj cas

zato trpam u toru pelene
i zurim u susjedni park
prugom koja će ne znamo cas
ali zasigurno odletjeti u zrak

preko rijeke kroz ravnicu ravno
po dvije divlje patke malog jezera u parku
i slicnih svakodnevnih trica
zurim zurim sa zaspalom sjenicom
u jednoj ruci i bocicom mlijeka u drugoj
prugom kojom jezde presahle dojke
i otvoreni kljunovi zaplasenih ptica

Osijek, juna 1991.

POSLIJE JUTARNJIH VIJESTI

Dobro je cim sam cula signal
ziva si nisu prekinute zice
djeca su budna? i djecak
koji cuva strazu kraj vrteske u parku
ziv?
i nocas su skakali iz kreveta
tapa tapa u papucama
u skloniste niz stube? kakav
dozivljaj! i teme za pismene zadace
o raspustu! nece biti skole?
jos prskaju prozori na zgradi preko puta?
bilo bi mi zao nekoliko fotografija
radne knjizice i ostalih knjiga
mijesis kiflice? sacuvaj mi par brojeva
tih lokalnih ratnih novina
sjecas se kako sam zaneseno istrazivala
javno mnjijenje? jeste li religiozni?
jeste krsteni? kakvi su odnosi u vasoj sredini?
oznacite vrijednosti do kojih vam je stalo: moje
imanje zdravlje djece napredak domovine… papiri
papiri papiri
uzalud su tutnjali racunari
trazeci hi kvadrate i srednje vrijednosti
kao nekad kazaljke na urama na primjer
i kao sto nocu tutnje tenkovi
pored ispustenih lopatica i pjescanih kula
uvijek zaboravim: uzmi iz ladice djecji nakit
poklon iz babinja spremi u naprtnjacu s novcem
i pasosima
nestao moj skolski drug? za drugim potjernica?
cuvaj se nazvat cu te ujutru cim pokupim
mrve poslije dorucka

Tatjana Lukic

REST IN PEACE. LOVE YOU FOREVER

Comment on Curnow vs Motion [blog battle] by nathan curnow

nathan curnow — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:27:54 +0000

I LOVE Tassie! so please help me out. I’m losing big time!

Comment on Asia Literary Review by UMA ANYAR

UMA ANYAR — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:43:43 +0000

Usefull information for my bACKGROUND RESEARCH.

Comment on Castlemaine Poetry Reading Sunday September 27th by Ms Cheryl Floyd

Ms Cheryl Floyd — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:21:18 +0000

Dear Ross
I am coming to Guildford on Sunday 27th September for the first time and would like to read 2 poems (both short) as part of my PWE assessment at BRIT. They are titled “The Surfer” and “Conspiratorially”`respectively. Hope to hear back from you that it will be okay for me to do this,
Chez

Comment on Art of the long view by Ralph

Ralph — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:06:22 +0000

Not sure I read it the same way as you Genevieve, The only thing to strike me about the interview is the reference to a ‘commodified, instant hero status’ which – if interpreted as a questioning of youthful idealism – might leave some people less than enthusiastic. I agree with you about ‘working in the library where she could read all day’ – a casual throwaway line.

Comment on Art of the long view by genevieve

genevieve — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:06:02 +0000

and as for ‘working in the library where she could read all day’ @#$%^****!!!

Comment on Art of the long view by genevieve

genevieve — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:05:30 +0000

Mmm, such a funny profile, this – one almost thinks Wyndham is having a go at Kennedy. But maybe she didn’t want to give too much of the book away.
I think it is a magnificent novel, a terrific entry. Do they give 100 points for diving?

Comment on Vale Tatjana Lukic by Nenad Bakaj

Nenad Bakaj — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:30:43 +0000

ALMOST A HAIKU

yellow helmets
on top of green uniforms
lining the road

- peace keepers

turning fourteen
- a stoned girl lights a candle
under a trembling town bridge

a kiss was long and warm
afterwards: a brief scream of a car engine
breaking the silence of the dawn

arriving home after work:
children fell asleep
in the quietness of the chat rooms

a lucky country, how fortunate
i am to be here: the sprinklers
from the backyard of a neighbour’s villa
water my roses over the fence

Tatjana Lukic (2005)

You are also invited to join a Facebook group ‘In memory of Tatjana (Tanja) Lukic’ – http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99059065626#/group.php?gid=99059065626

Comment on Alan Marshall Short Story Award 2009 by Ralph

Ralph — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 10:02:38 +0000

yep, it’s an annual award, though there’s nothing up yet on their website re the 2010 awards

http://www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au/page/page.asp?Page_id=2151&preview=true&resetNv=true

Comment on Alan Marshall Short Story Award 2009 by G Oberoi

G Oberoi — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:20:31 +0000

will there be an 2010 story award?

Comment on Go to bed with a good book? No thanks. by Ralph

Ralph — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:59:32 +0000

haven’t read either, I regret to say, even though Heather’s a local and I’m aware of her work

Comment on Book launch – Robyn Mathison, 27th August: Hobart Bookshop by sandra742

sandra742 — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:57:25 +0000

Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. Cheers! Sandra. R.

Comment on Go to bed with a good book? No thanks. by simone

simone — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:23:27 +0000

jennifer mills’ ‘the diamond anchor’ and heather rose’s ‘the river wife’ spring to mind. there are good literary love stories!

Comment on A sweet unrest: Jane Campion recreates love affair between poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne by Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:34:55 +0000

I can’t wait to see Jane Campion’s new movie Bright Star when it opens in theaters Sept. 18th. The visuals looks stunning, and the story sounds interesting, too. If you haven’t seen the updated official site for Bright Star, you can find it here.
brightstar-movie.com

Comment on do ghosts wear jeans and sneakers, Kevin Brophy? by Ralph

Ralph — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 07:55:14 +0000

you’re welcome

Comment on do ghosts wear jeans and sneakers, Kevin Brophy? by genevieve

genevieve — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:23:53 +0000

why, thank you, Ralph.

Comment on Stop the publishing whitewash by Ralph

Ralph — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 08:31:46 +0000

I haven’t read other journalistic takes on this issue Maxine, just the ‘Guardian’ piece and a quick look at Justine L’s blog for her response. I’m not outraged but I am surprised, as a marketing strategy it seems a no-brainer to me.

Comment on Stop the publishing whitewash by Maxine

Maxine — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 06:42:52 +0000

This story didn’t surprise me at all. I’m surprised though, at (what I perceive to be) the general lack of outrage it. Journalists, and other writers, seem to mainly have examined the situation rather than openly condemning the occurance.

Comment on Book launch – Robyn Mathison, 27th August: Hobart Bookshop by Ralph

Ralph — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:53:40 +0000

I’ve crossed paths with your mum a couple of times in the past few months, but always across the other side of the street, not at a reading….

Best of luck with funding.

Comment on Book launch – Robyn Mathison, 27th August: Hobart Bookshop by Ivy

Ivy — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:13:12 +0000

Hi Ralph,

Funding for travel to a festival for which I was invited (Newcastle, NSW) is up in the air at the moment and so it’s looking unlikely I’ll be able to come down, which is a shame. My mother’s in Manila at the moment, anyway, and wouldn’t be in Tas to coincide with my visit. Maybe next year!

Ivy

Comment on Book launch – Robyn Mathison, 27th August: Hobart Bookshop by Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:07:55 +0000

It’s great news; about time. I’ve seen the book and it’s a fine production, Pete’s promised me his launch speech in due course.

I see you’ve tentatively pencilled in a gig in Oz in a couple of months, heading down to see your Mum?

Comment on Book launch – Robyn Mathison, 27th August: Hobart Bookshop by Ivy

Ivy — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 07:41:14 +0000

Yay, Robyn! Excellent news!

Comment on davey dreamnation by Davey

Davey — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:25:41 +0000

Ha ha – you got me there, Ralph!!!

Comment on Found in translation by Melbourne Translator

Melbourne Translator — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:37:13 +0000

This is informative blog site, it gives more knowledge and some useful things.

Comment on A special evening of Tasmanian literature and food by forced to be lesbian

forced to be lesbian — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:30:43 +0000

now I’ll be tuned..

Comment on Free verse, or odes made to order? by Jonathan S

Jonathan S — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:44:56 +0000

Dnnis Kevans called himself the Poet Lorikeet, which nicely straddled the two attitudes to the idea

Comment on David Bromige by Ralph

Ralph — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:26:12 +0000

Done, Chris. Condolences.

Comment on David Bromige by Chris Bromige

Chris Bromige — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:40:28 +0000

Could I trouble you to post the above as comment on the bromige wordpress site – I suppose without my passage ? I have no idea of the common practice in these situations, I’m just trying to collect as much of the reaction and reflection on him into one place for the ease of his family and heirs.

Chris Bromige

Comment on Wet Ink issue 14 by Jonathan S

Jonathan S — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:26:39 +0000

I was just reminiscing in passing on my blog about the weirdness that was the Porn Fests in Sydney in the early 70s. Your quote from the Wet Ink editors makes it seem that that battle doesn’t belong to a completely past era after all.

Comment on PressPress Chapbook Award 2009 by Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:44:03 +0000

Hello Noel, While I think they may vary, 32 pages is about average. The chapbook which won last year’s PressPress award was 32 pages in length with 18 poems – a ‘pocket’ chapbook, average page fits in 30 lines plus poem’s title.

Comment on PressPress Chapbook Award 2009 by Noel Tennison

Noel Tennison — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:19:23 +0000

Confused about what qualifies for “chapbook -length.”

Comment on ‘la, la, la’ : Tatjana Lukic by LILY

LILY — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:52:41 +0000

Deep,emotionaly,nice….nice.
You must read this book.

Comment on Blast # 9 by Ralph

Ralph — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:39:05 +0000

Hello Daphne, I remember an email conversation with Bill once, discussing editing magazines. He suggested that every editor has an agenda. I didn’t really agree with him then though I’m not sure I said so in so many words … I’m far more comfortable with the idea these days.
Ralph

Comment on Blast # 9 by Daphne Hargreaves

Daphne Hargreaves — Tue, 12 May 2009 07:22:06 +0000

So nice to see Bill Tully’s name pop up again. He was a good friend to new writers as well as supporting others. I haven’t seen him around in Canberra for a while. He used to do a radio program, talking with and encouraging new writers. He helped me to get started and I wish to thank him for this.
He interviewed me on his radio show and this gave me courage to move forward. If Bill is out there still I’d like to thank him and tell him that I’ve just finished my fourth book of poetry, which is now with Stephen Matthews, publisher.. The title is A Brief Case of lives.
Thanks Bill

Comment on Vale Tatjana Lukic by Isobel Hannan

Isobel Hannan — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:37:12 +0000

You may be interested to know that la, la, la by Tatjana Lukic will be launched on Sunday 17 May in Canberra – see http://www.paperchainbookstore.com.au/PaperchainBookStore/events.cfm?events_id=150&view=detail for more details. If you can’t make it to the launch but would like to order a copy of the book, please contact Five Islands Press – http://www.fiveislandspress.com/index.html.

Comment on Ross Coward’s review of Jodie Hawthorne’s ‘Watching Pilgrims Watching Me’ by andrew ray

andrew ray — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:21:04 +0000

A fine review. Delicate, complementary and like the rising theatrical curtain hinting of the unexpected to come.

andrew ray

Comment on $500 national [Australia] poetry prize announced by Janette Hill

Janette Hill — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:20:59 +0000

Reflection
Sing me a song of the mountains
where the quiet waters lay,
let me rest my weary soul
in the bosom of the land.

Take me to this gentle place
and let me sit a while,
then I’ll feast my eyes
on the swaying gums of home.
As evening mists and starry light
speak to me of peace,
I’ll sit a while and ponder
in the solitutde of night.

Sing me a song of the mountains
where the air is fresh and clean,
and the lullabies of nature
are a balm in sweet refrain.
Come to me my darling
and my world will be complete,
join me in this paradise
where the quiet waters lay.

by
Janette Kathleen Hill

Australia is my beloved land and only a poet can express how I feel.

Kind Regards
Janette Hill

Comment on PressPress Chapbook Award 2009 by Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:56:58 +0000

Hello Thelma,

Sorry to have taken so long to reply. You’ll need to get in touch with PressPress for the entry form and conditions, at http://members.ozemail.com.au/~writerslink/PressPress/2008_Award.htmln

Best,

Ralph

Comment on PressPress Chapbook Award 2009 by Thelma Louise Thomson

Thelma Louise Thomson — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:42:03 +0000

Could you please Email me entry form and condidtions for PressPress Chapbook Award 2009. I would like to enter the comportition as I have a lot of different poems. If possible can I have a contactable phone number.

Comment on Poetry workshops coming up on the South Coast of NSW by name

name — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:26:59 +0000

comment1,

Comment on Liz Winfield’s monthly mailout of Tassie writing & reading events by Brian Barker

Brian Barker — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:03:03 +0000

As the “International Year of Languages” comes to an end, you may be interested in the contribution, made by the World Esperanto Association, to UNESCO’s campaign for the protection of endangered languages.

The following declaration was made in favour of Esperanto, by UNESCO at its Paris HQ in December 2009. http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=38420&URL_DO=DO_PRINTPAGE&URL_SECTION=201.html

The commitment to the campaign to save endangered languages was made, by the World Esperanto Association at UNESCO’s Geneva HQ.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eR7vD9kChBA&feature=related

Comment on Nobel lecture by 2008 Literature laureate Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio by Ralph

Ralph — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:36:03 +0000

Yes, Louise; food for thought in his ‘forest of paradoxes’. Can’t help but be reminded by his words of the forest debate in Tasmania, in a way; possibly because it’s local and always simmering in the background, but maybe more so because of the gulf between the extremities of views about the issue … food for thought in there too, certainly concentrates you (me) to think about it.

Comment on Nobel lecture by 2008 Literature laureate Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio by louise waller

louise waller — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:42:03 +0000

thanks ralph, for this post. a wonderful essay from le clezio which took me places, provoked some interesting thinking on his ideas and his understanding of – how language is. what writing is.

louise

Comment on Books of the year 2008 by Hannü

Hannü — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 22:33:24 +0000

Dialogues Tibetan Dialogues Han by Hannü

Dialogues Tibetan Dialogues Han is a travelogue from Tibet as well as a book of conversations with dozens of Tibetans from all walks of life in Tibet on a wide range of subjects – the Dalai Lama, polyandry, sky & water burials, the Muslims, the Han, Tibetan mastiffs, aweto, languages, thangka, Buddhism, independence and more.

Published this year, it is the most democratic and down-to-earth book to have come out of Tibet in decades.

Comment on Vale Dorothy Porter by Bev Braune

Bev Braune — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:27:03 +0000

I feel inconsolably sad.

Comment on Liz Winfield’s monthly mailout of Tassie writing & reading events by Robyn Perrett

Robyn Perrett — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:30:15 +0000

Would a CD or book of “An ear on my heart – peoms of motherhood” be available for purchase?

Comment on Young Australian author wins Dylan Thomas prize by Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:15:07 +0000

I haven’t come across it, I struggle to get through a book though I’ve got two on the go at the moment, Elizabeth Jolley’s ‘Palomino’ and Norman Rush’s ‘Mating
yep; some extra money for the writers centre, that’d be nice.. interesting thoughts from the Oz Council in their latest directives, eh? the response from down here, beyond the question mark, has been to accentuate tassie as a site of environmental initiative, as a connection for ‘island’ concerns [wherever that leads] and to turn a literary torch on Antarctica
could $140k really keep 4W going for 20 years or more?

Comment on Young Australian author wins Dylan Thomas prize by derek

derek — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:00:43 +0000

the boat is a really fine book. though i’m always stunned at the amounts for these ‘prizes’. $140k could keep fourW running for 20 years or more, or keep the writers’ centre running for perhaps 5 years, thereby giving 20 writers paid residencies & promotional opportunities.

i know all this has been said before, but still.

Comment on jottings by Ralph

Ralph — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 05:47:14 +0000

Hello Joyce, yes I managed to get past the problem of the ‘bots’, though not without some difficulty.

Comment on jottings by Joyce Parkes

Joyce Parkes — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 05:28:12 +0000

Are you still regularly posting this website? Regards. Joyce.

Comment on Liz Winfield’s monthly mailout of Tassie writing & reading events by Ralph

Ralph — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:28:35 +0000

No problems Bridget, I’ll speak to Liz and line it up.

Comment on Liz Winfield’s monthly mailout of Tassie writing & reading events by Bridget Shirley

Bridget Shirley — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 02:47:21 +0000

Please could you put me on your e-mail list… Bridget

Comment on Raising an Aboriginal language from the dead by Ralph

Ralph — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:00:55 +0000

>The parallels between ecology of environment and ecology of
>language are striking.

Agreed, & thanks for this Mary, your ‘ecology of language’ reference has sparked a connection that’ll help with an idea or two/piece of writing I’m struggling with at the moment.

Comment on Raising an Aboriginal language from the dead by Mary Finnis

Mary Finnis — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:25:08 +0000

Very good article. The parallels between ecology of environment and ecology of language are striking. I’d say the writer has read Geoffrey Bateson as he has adopted some of his phrases and thinking.

Comment on The Poetry of Scissors and Glue by jude durrant

jude durrant — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:36:02 +0000

Thoughtful,poignant and out-there — not esoteric as some of his poetry — brings to mind Ern O’malley(hoax poetry)and Juan Davila(painter). Thanks for the link.

Comment on [more] lists and lists by Ralph

Ralph — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:58:42 +0000

Well for a small journal, not greatly cashed up, short pithy blog posts are ideal. Some pieces – the David Prater post of two or three issues back – are essays in themselves … & decent essays (along with good reviewing) remain the most difficult form of writing for a magazine to get hold of.

Comment on [more] lists and lists by genevieve

genevieve — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:49:21 +0000

I know Famous Reporter was the first Oz journal I came across that published blog posts – quite a while back. You had Sheila O’Malley and Martin Edmond, among others. HEAT and Meanjin are just catching up to you now

Comment on [more] lists and lists by Ralph

Ralph — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 02:34:18 +0000

Very much so; confirms something you spoke of a couple of years ago [on reeling and writhing], how blogs might prove to be a potentially valuable source of material for journals … even print journals.

Comment on [more] lists and lists by genevieve

genevieve — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:21:32 +0000

Dervala is wonderful, isn’t she? – she has been quiet lately though. YOu have reminded me that I must pay her a visit and make sure that feed’s working.

Comment on Vale Tatjana Lukic by Ralph

Ralph — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:34:53 +0000

Thank you Snezana. You might also like to visit poneme at http://www.poneme.blogspot.com/ … the posts dated 13th August.

Comment on Vale Tatjana Lukic by Snezana Zabic

Snezana Zabic — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:12:17 +0000

To pay tribute, I want to quote this small but great poem by Patricia Sykes, to whose work Tatjana introduced me…

ropes 2

upside down you’re a
circus gypsy a wanderer
on a rope who swings
and sings to herself
the way an upturned world
makes the proper sense

(from Wire Dancing, 1999)

Comment on Vale Tatjana Lukic by maliprinc

maliprinc — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:39:04 +0000

Tatjana Lukic

….

najteze je uspostaviti nacin
ljubavi prijatelji načini
kud god okrenuo uho
podmetnuo nogu
ostavljao oci
potrebno je pristupiti
najprije nacinom
to ti je ogledalo
to ti je sesir
to ti je rukavica
desna
to si htio ne htio ti
od kose do noznog palca
najprije veza
izmedju sebe i sebe
pa svojim nacinom
svijetom se prospi

1977.

Comment on [more] lists and lists by Ralph

Ralph — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:38:53 +0000

you’re very welcome

ps we share an appreciation of Dervala’s writing, as I discovered a couple of days ago

Comment on [more] lists and lists by genevieve

genevieve — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:33:59 +0000

oh, thank you!!

Comment on ‘qarrtsiluni’ – an online literary journal by Ralph

Ralph — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 06:47:30 +0000

Thanks Louise – time for a change & a later version of wordpress, the spam level with the old one was killing me.

Comment on ‘qarrtsiluni’ – an online literary journal by louise

louise — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 06:20:48 +0000

i meant your new site that is…

Comment on ‘qarrtsiluni’ – an online literary journal by louise

louise — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 06:19:42 +0000

this site looks fab and so much really interesting info…yay ralph

Comment on Against National Poetry Month by Dear Shipmates « Amy King’s Alias

Dear Shipmates « Amy King’s Alias — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:31:59 +0000

[...] In the meantime, visit Currajah for a little note I wrote this weekend. And take a peek at these two poems re-typed to tide you over: [...]

Comment on The Ubud experience – an exotic writers’ festival by Ralph

Ralph — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:08:53 +0000

Yes I did too.

My experience of festivals differs markedly from Adib’s … I’m one of the avid listeners. But I appreciate where he’s coming from. Enjoyed his fresh slant on ‘place’ and ‘home’ too. I’m accustomed to reading about ‘place’ in a particular way, especially here in Tassie where it’s part of the background conversation. Adib’s view ties in with conversations about ‘place’ as something of the heart – still to do with locale but perhaps more idealised….

Tried responding to your blog twice last month Louise … hit a black hole I guess, neither appeared.

Comment on The Ubud experience – an exotic writers’ festival by louise

louise — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 23:04:07 +0000

Hi Ralph,

I want to say how much I enjoyed this post!

It is refreshing to read Adib Khan’s perspective and I will make sure that I read his work.

It is evident now that not only international migrants are seemingly forever ‘somewhere else’. The trends of trans migration of folk in Australia, from country to city or to coast (and now increasingly in the over 50′s,from city to coast) will offer many Australians an opportunity to think about the ‘migration’ experience.

Although, it can in no way compare with the experiences of many migrants who are forced to flee one place ‘home’, in order to secure safety, food and shelter for family, and in some cases under threat of death for personal and political beliefs.

Hopefully, we can appreciate each other and be ourselves wherever we are.

Comment on Rudd to reward Aussie writers by Ralph

Ralph — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:07:35 +0000

Fair point. I’ve been following a bit of the online commentary in response to Rudd’s announcement – here for instance http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/07/2112267.htm – and been tempted to throw in ‘what about literary magazines?’, but had to bite my tongue.

Comment on Rudd to reward Aussie writers by derek

derek — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 21:50:47 +0000

why don’t we all just go & become novelists then…

Comment on the ratio of men to women published in journals by Joyce Parkes

Joyce Parkes — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:10:53 +0000

Shape matters, as well as form. Yet “The world of fiction was/is mostly as men imagined it to be. Men ran the publishing houses and all the machinery of evaluation and criticism,” said Virginia. We’ve progressed marginally, since merit continues to reside in the eyes of the ruling side. Just note how many men represent us in Parliament, in the Judiciary, in Publishing – have you also noted how many books on your shelves were written by men, how few by women? Regards. Joyce Parkes.

Comment on jottings by Martin

Martin — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:01:01 +0000

Kind of you Ralph. My reasoning is that the style of thinking which makes one self-judgemental becomes a mental habit and gets spread around.

Nice blog btw, I’ll check back from time to time – thanks!!

Comment on jottings by Joyce Parkes

Joyce Parkes — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 05:11:54 +0000

The planners of Tasmania’s pulp mill may care to recall that “Motion as in a mill,
Is busie standing still.” –
As William Cartwright wrote. Regards. Joyce Parkes.

Comment on Interview with Ivy Alvarez by Ivy

Ivy — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:13:06 +0000

Thanks, Ralph.

Comment on Poetry slams Mildura by Ralph

Ralph — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:08:51 +0000

Haven’t managed to watch one live, the closest we have down here is probably the Launceston Poetry Cup … sixty-second verse … different but fun.

Comment on Poetry slams Mildura by Dean

Dean — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 12:44:17 +0000

These events should be viseod and vodcast. They’re incredibly fun for the poets. I was in one and got to the second-last round. Makes your pulse race and validates what you’re doing.

Comment on Triumph of Democracy with book of the year by Dean

Dean — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:43:27 +0000

First ten pages read and they’re stunning in their simplicity and intent. Cochrane knows his topic, knows where he wants to take us, and knows the market. This will sell.

Comment on Melbourne ‘Australia’s literary capital’ by not from sydney either

not from sydney either — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 03:20:55 +0000

somebody grab melbourne’s feet – it’s disappearing up its own arsehole again

Comment on Triumph of Democracy with book of the year by Dean

Dean — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 13:06:26 +0000

“a book about political developments in 1850s NSW doesn’t necessarily sound like the most lively subject — to read or write”

Typical journo bullshit. Steger is a wet rag in a windstorm: soon shredded. Cochrane’s book will be the first of many. Even Fitzsimmons uses literary journalism to get his point across.

It’s attitudes like Steger’s that cause people to remain ignorant. He should know better, being British. Who would dare say the same about the Enlightenment, for example? He can go f**k himself as far as I’m concerned.

Comment on Lost in the blogosphere: why literary blogging won’t save our literary culture by Ralph

Ralph — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 21:17:25 +0000

Hello Tom. I agree with you about being optimistic: there’s too much good material/reviewing on the net to write it off.

I suppose – from a first impression – I’d come at this from a different angle, from concern for reviewing itself: that it’s difficult to find good reviewers (particularly with the time to devote to the detailed study of a book or collection), that what’s on offer in payment rarely makes it worth a reviewer’s time; and , re your ‘I lament the decline of the print review’, the lack of opportunity generally (lack of print space), for the review.

Comment on Lost in the blogosphere: why literary blogging won’t save our literary culture by xensen

xensen — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:35:13 +0000

Nice piece. While I think there is reason to be optimistic about the potential of on-line reviewing (I wrote about this in my review of Gail Pool’s Faint Praise at my blog.rightreading.com), I lament the decline of the print review, which here in the U.S. I attribute as much to changed priorities and reduced resources in our educational system as to the rise of the internet.

Comment on Compulsive Imaginings – Introducing Australian Poets Jill Jones, David Prater and Paul Hardacre by Angela Meyer

Angela Meyer — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:41:02 +0000

Thanks for linking the article – more of my work at my blog – http://literaryminded.blogspot.com

Comment on Pulping our poetry by Brian

Brian — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:24:04 +0000

For many months now, I have been reading a lot of Australian contemporary poetry, trying to acquaint myself with it and trying to get up to date.

Some times, rarely, I find a poem that speaks brilliantly.

I am well educated and well read, yet more often than not, I find myself irritated by contemporary poetry as it is literally meaningless — that is, the words fail to convey any meaning or image to to me as reader; they are simply . . .words.

I do not comment on Wearne’s novels, for I haven’t read them. But if modern Australian poets cannot write poetry that has meaning TO THE READER, they will remain unpublished or their publications will be pulped.

If it’s good enough, it will be published because it will sell.

Comment on Watermark Literary Muster 2-6 Oct 07 by Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:17:29 +0000

Ah … would that involve speaking in front of an audience?

But you’re right ; it’d be great to go along. Lyn [Reeves] and I hope to visit the Byron Bay Writers’ Festival on a more regular basis, so the Muster’s not impossible. But not this year.

Cheers,

Ralph

Comment on Watermark Literary Muster 2-6 Oct 07 by Willah

Willah — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:01:30 +0000

Get yourself sponsored to go Ralph, it’s a great festival. Better still, get yourself invited

Comment on Kathy Barnsley: launch of Alice Nunn’s new novel ‘Sail on’ [Fagus Tasmanian Press] by Liz Henry

Liz Henry — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 23:24:11 +0000

You’re kidding…

This makes me so happy! Can’t wait to read the novel. And I have been looking for Alice Nunn. If you could put her in touch with me I’d be very grateful!

Comment on John Banville takes on Benjamin Black by Ralph

Ralph — Tue, 22 May 2007 06:09:19 +0000

The interviewer, too: ‘When I was researching Althusser for this interview, a friend of mine asked for a neck massage!’ … there’s synchronicity for you!

Comment on John Banville takes on Benjamin Black by genevieve

genevieve — Tue, 22 May 2007 04:22:14 +0000

Ay, a funny interview indeed. How is he on Althusser? Hilarious.

Comment on Five Islands Press New Poets Tour – Hobart, August 2006. by Ralph

Ralph — Sat, 19 May 2007 10:41:40 +0000

Hello Ivy, good to hear from you.

Comment on Five Islands Press New Poets Tour – Hobart, August 2006. by Ivy

Ivy — Sat, 19 May 2007 09:18:39 +0000

What a great report! Thanks, Ralph! It’s made me a little homesick reading this. Thanks also for introducing me to more poets… Congratulations to Francesca Haig.

Comment on Slam poets leave meter running by Scott Hughes

Scott Hughes — Thu, 17 May 2007 23:32:43 +0000

Yes, I love spoken word and performance poetry. It's a great way for the youth to do art and observe art. Plus, they get to express themselves. You might like SpokenWordArt.com.

Comment on Benjamin Black: Christine Falls by Dean

Dean — Sun, 13 May 2007 13:34:01 +0000

Crime fiction, and all genre fiction, is for lazy readers who need the guarantee that their genre of choice provides. It sucks the suspense out of the reading experience because you KNOW what you’ll get. My mother (bless ‘er) reads Agatha Christie (like those funny French) and is an afficionado of Dick Francis. She’s inherently conservative, like only those who were ‘artistic’ in their youth can be. All crime fiction writers have pictures of my mother stuck to their work spaces, so they’ll never have to think about what to write. The old formula works a treat every time.

Banville schmanville.

Comment on Benjamin Black: Christine Falls by Ralph

Ralph — Sun, 13 May 2007 07:08:11 +0000

But Dean, it’s Banville!

I’d read anything of his – wouldn’t you? – & if I had a few dollars spare I’d be seeking it out.

Comment on Benjamin Black: Christine Falls by Dean

Dean — Sun, 13 May 2007 06:57:15 +0000

Who gives a flying f**k about crime fiction..

Comment on The Face: Ian Syson by Ian Syson

Ian Syson — Mon, 07 May 2007 02:05:35 +0000

It was Port Hedland.

Comment on funeral by Lynn

Lynn — Fri, 04 May 2007 18:52:05 +0000

I didn’t go to the funeral – too close to home for me at the moment. But I’ve watched Anna and Pete since, each grappling in there own way for some understanding of why such a brilliant mind was cut short before reaching its full potential. We’ll never know the answer to that one, but they are right to be proud of Tom. Gosh who wouldn’t be?

Comment on Alternate perspectives by Ralph

Ralph — Tue, 01 May 2007 11:25:56 +0000

Not sure what the prime minister reads but as for ‘The Lord of the Rings’ I’m a big fan myself

The issues you touch on seem the sort that plague writers who achieve big commercial – but not critical – success; when you read them being interviewed they often mention that ‘the critics don’t like me but the public does so I must be doing something right’. And when a particular oz author goes for two or three interviews straight without mentioning his critics, I figure to myself he must be going through a good patch … [And so be it: we need our good patches].

Comment on Alternate perspectives by Dean

Dean — Tue, 01 May 2007 07:10:28 +0000

It’s unfortunate what Cheung writes, but it’s true. It’s true, however, of all literary authors. I mean authors who write ‘literature’ rather than just ‘books’. You only have to look at the bestseller lists, like the one Angus & Robertson (a determindely middle-brow retailer) recently released, to know it’s true. When the Liberal front-bencher Malcolm Turnbull appeared on The First Tuesday Book Club (a refuge of serious Australian book lovers that screen for half-an-hour every month) his professed favourite read was ‘The Lord of the Rings’, which is a book for children. There is no evidence that the prime minister, John Howard, has ever read any imaginative literature in his life. God forbid that he should ever admit to doing so!

Comment on 2007 ABR Poetry Prize by Ralph

Ralph — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 08:39:28 +0000

Thanks D, very much appreciated. No it’s cool, doesn’t get me down – glad ABR takes the occasional look.

Comment on 2007 ABR Poetry Prize by Willah

Willah — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 14:21:44 +0000

Don’t let the turkeys get you down. Famous Reporter and Island are both dynamic, accessible and discerning publications. Perhaps the ABR’s FR copy fell apart from an excess of bile.

Comment on funeral by Anna

Anna — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 09:18:01 +0000

And he lived a life well and full, and bravely. Thanks for your thoughts Ralph.

Comment on Australian Literary Review by genevieve

genevieve — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 01:01:34 +0000

Hello, and thanks for mentioning my work! I can assure you that “Online, everyone’s a critic” was indeed written for the December ALR – however there is quite a bit of stuff around about books and blogging, and of necessity the introduction to such pieces usually requires a Blogging 101 section. After a while we do, unfortunately, all start to sound a bit the same….But I do hope that the points I made to tie blogging about books in with Ivor Indyk’s essay on conversations and criticism (which is ten years old) were fresh to you anyway.

Comment on Why we are a nation of poets by Ralph

Ralph — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 11:00:31 +0000

sometimes news is slow

Comment on Why we are a nation of poets by dez

dez — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 10:01:15 +0000

peter craven fails to interest me regularly. there is merit in this article – it is about aus. poetry.

Comment on ‘Galatea Resurrects #5′ (A Poetry Engagement) by Ralph

Ralph — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 19:25:17 +0000

Yes Manning slipped under the radar, not someone whose work I’ve come across before.

Comment on ‘Galatea Resurrects #5′ (A Poetry Engagement) by mark young

mark young — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 13:05:24 +0000

add Nicholas Manning also – an Australian in Paris.

Comment on ‘Galatea Resurrects #5′ (A Poetry Engagement) by Ralph

Ralph — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 00:12:56 +0000

Hello Ivy … yes, read your words with interest; hoping [if I can find the time] to pen a few of my own in response to Pam’s ‘Peel me a zibibbo’.

Things are good – busy, that’s all, but that’s not a bad way to be.

Cheers.

Comment on ‘Galatea Resurrects #5′ (A Poetry Engagement) by Ivy

Ivy — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 23:29:03 +0000

Hi Ralph, I reviewed Pam Brown’s chap, so that’s another Aussie in there. Hope you’re well!

Comment on Meanjin, vol 65, no 4, 2006: ‘On Faith’ by Ralph

Ralph — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:40:00 +0000

Yes a potent piece. I haven’t come across Gerardo’s name before and am only resorting to ‘Meanjin’s bio, that he’s a professor of English Literature at the University of Granada in Spain. Googling reveals a good deal of his writing in Spanish as well as an interview with Australian author Carmel Bird….

Comment on Meanjin, vol 65, no 4, 2006: ‘On Faith’ by John A. Adams

John A. Adams — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:54:52 +0000

I’m quite pleased with the Meanjin issue on Faith. The story by Gerard Rodriguez Salas was a revelation, so powerful and yet so subtle in the way of dealing with such a difficult topic. Has this author written anything else?

Comment on ‘Eureka Street’s’ top ten limericks by Ralph

Ralph — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 15:03:02 +0000

agree with you completely

my comment was more in the line of observation; certainly not criticism, I’ve a great deal of respect for ‘Eureka Street’.

Comment on ‘Eureka Street’s’ top ten limericks by James M

James M — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 13:23:12 +0000

We had a panel of four judges. Not everyone voted for the winner, to be sure, but it secured the most, on a 5-4-3-2-1 votes basis. I kinda like it, to be honest. I don’t agree that poetry can’t have a moral, or a message, or call it what you will…
It’s when it moralises that the problems start.

Comment on Newfoundland and Tasmanian literatures by Ralph

Ralph — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:39:17 +0000

Interesting isn’t it? I remember a visiting writer addressing an audience in Hobart, waxing lyrically about recent research (for a PhD? a new book? … I can’t recall) that focussed on a study of Leigh’s book. A thoughtful, engaging presentation – it’d have gone down a treat with any other audience, but remained blissfully unaware of local ambivalence.

Comment on Newfoundland and Tasmanian literatures by genevieve

genevieve — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 04:47:18 +0000

Good points, particularly with books that depend on ‘place’, as so much Tasmanian writing seems to do. I am delighted to find this link, looking forward to reading this at leisure later today and maybe blogging it myself next week. Thanks!

Comment on The Best Australian Stories 2006 by Ralph

Ralph — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:11:23 +0000

Agree with you Dean. You’ll force me now to chase up a copy of ‘Dark Roots’.

Comment on The Best Australian Stories 2006 by Dean

Dean — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 11:35:42 +0000

I reviewed Cate Kennedy's collection of short stories in November. What an amazing writer she is! Absolutely pitch-perfect and displaying great restraint. It's a marvel to discover work of this calibre. My first exposure was in The New Yorker earlier this year.

Comment on Blogwatch by Ralph

Ralph — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 11:06:23 +0000

Hello Louise.
Interesting too that ‘young writers’ aren’t necessarily ‘young’ writers.
And I agree; the value of a grant can be ‘life-changing’ (as Delia Falconer suggests), regardless of the age of the recipient.

Comment on Blogwatch by Louise Waller

Louise Waller — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 21:42:24 +0000

Interesting that most people still think about emerging writers as ‘young writers’. There is a long tradition of late bloomers who emerge from the process of ordinary life and continue to write, but now have time to also look at publishing their work. The lateness of their emergence has little to do with the quality of their emerging work. Just a timing thing, a choice thing.
Refusing the opportunity to seek grants based on some age cut-off would not be the way to go. Grants should be given to interesting and excellent writers, who are making interesting and excellent work. At any age from any place. I don’t think age or fame should be an issue, in fact, who the writer is, how old or young, how well connected – should not be a consideration in grant receipt. Isn’t it more important that the grant be given based on the work submitted?

Comment on Uni of Qld, Conference: Magazines and Modernity in Australia by Ralph

Ralph — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 09:41:31 +0000

Hello Dean. Yes, very interesting, particularly given the topics under discussion/papers called for, (maybe something printed will come out at its conclusion):

Authorship; readers and reading; little magazines and literary culture; pulp fiction; lowbrow, middlebrow and highbrow periodicals; magazines and gender; printing and technology; literary history; magazines and the nation; newspaper history; magazines and cinema, radio and television; magazines and visual culture; the circulation of British and American magazines.

Comment on Uni of Qld, Conference: Magazines and Modernity in Australia by Dean

Dean — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 09:12:04 +0000

I’d love to go to this one. Looks really fascinating. Any Queensland visitors to this blog have a chance to get along and listen? I’d love to know what they say.

Comment on Australia – a national poetry centre by Ralph

Ralph — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 21:05:18 +0000

Hello Josie,

The new national poetry centre is just a grand idea at the moment, it’s not opening till early in 2007 as I understand.

If you’re considering joining, then perhaps you live in Melbourne? I wonder if you’ve thought of joining the Victorian Writer’s Centre – given that they offer workshops that could prove helpful, and list writing groups that might welcome new members.

Alternatively, you might join an online poetry mailing list and dive in asking for comments. [Fraught with danger of course cos it might invite blunt criticism in response, worse, you mightn't even get a response].

Comment on Australia – a national poetry centre by josie

josie — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 16:16:14 +0000

i just would like to know how to join and enter and get some advice on a poem i wrote.

Comment on RSVP & luca antara by Ralph

Ralph — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 12:40:14 +0000

family and friends, they’re good launches. lovely you sold some books too

Comment on RSVP & luca antara by Martin E

Martin E — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 04:20:36 +0000

Well, thank you … there were upwards of fifty who came & so far as I know everything was eaten & drunk … & a few (23) books sold too. It was more of a family and friends than a literary occasion, as it turned out. Which is just fine.