Latest Articles
A Sydney-based academic and columnist for the Nine rags sets out to explain the US to Australians. It's not a pretty picture
Sep 20 2024
8 mins
The philospher began with the conviction 'the only human activity that seems to have any importance' is the great cosmic 'why?'
Sep 20 2024
24 mins
In the Senate, a very queer notion of free speech
Sep 20 2024
2 mins
Andrew Lansdown: Two Poems
Visiting Basho’s Grave
Gichuji Temple, Otsu
i
Modest, like haiku—
the memorial stone for
Matsuo Basho.
ii
With pulley and pale,
though both a little weathered—
Basho’s temple well.
iii
Basho would like it—
the imperfect re-joining
of his split headstone.
iv
Basho and sabi—
the wood of the hooped bucket
discoloured by rust.
v
A little apart
from Basho’s gravestone and hut—
look, banana trees!
Andrew Lansdown
In the Gardens of the Imperial Palace
for Susan, Kyoto
i
She takes a turn
in the gardens … the maples
redden and burn.
ii
Her greatest fans—
the ginkgoes offer my love
their golden fans.
iii
The sparrows whir—
even they are unsettled
at the sight of her.
Andrew Lansdown
Madam: Archbishop Fisher (July-August 2024) does not resist the attacks on his church by the political, social or scientific atheists and those who insist on not being told what to do.
Aug 29 2024
6 mins
To claim Aborigines have the world's oldest continuous culture is to misunderstand the meaning of culture, which continuously changes over time and location. For a culture not to change over time would be a reproach and certainly not a cause for celebration, for it would indicate that there had been no capacity to adapt. Clearly this has not been the case
Aug 20 2024
23 mins
A friend and longtime supporter of Quadrant, Clive James sent us a poem in 2010, which we published in our December issue. Like the Taronga Park Aquarium he recalls in its 'mocked-up sandstone cave' it's not to be forgotten
Aug 16 2024
2 mins
