Latest Articles
The man behind X has been obliged to bow before a censorship regime we may soon see in Australia
Oct 10 2024
11 mins
To plumb the depths of our cultural crisis, we must examine our institutions, especially universities.
Oct 10 2024
11 mins
A chant you won't hear: 'What do we want? Nuclear! How much? Lots! When? Now!'
Oct 07 2024
4 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
Many will disagree, but World War III is too great a risk to run by involving ourselves in a distant border conflict
Sep 25 2024
5 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
