When they have taken away
the childish laughter and dog-eared books,
peeled off the last much embrace,
given the girl
her lipsticks, hair rinses and pills
When they have poured back the drinks
as long as empty deserts,
returned the spurs to the one-night stands,
taken off the overcoat,
and riddled her bed with song
They’ll find
a mirror smothered in lips
a vacant room with stale cigar ash,
an unpaid bill for a Turkish masseur,
a woman’s glove by a handsome typewritter
They’ll see
charleston dresses of the mind
with their fringes running like blood,
a list of men’s names
from childhood to eternity,
they’ll dig the very fluff from the floorboards,
examine the stains on the manuscripts
Which drug did she take?
Which pain did she prefer?
What does the lady offer
behind the words, behind the words?
The criteria will be:
so long as she’s dead we may
sabotage and rape
About Vicki Viidikas
Vicki Viidikas (1948-1998) was born to an Estonian father and an Australian mother in Sydney, New South Wales. She left school at the age of fifteen and began writing. She joined the Balmain group of poets who pushed the literary
boundaries. Her writing based on personal experiences became her passion and her voice.
In 1967 ‘At East Balmain’ became her first poem to be published. Four books which comprise both fiction and poetry followed:
Condition Red (1973),
Wrappings (1974),
Knabel (1978) and
India Ink (1984). All met with critical acclaim and over time Viidikas has become a much anthologised and influential writer. In 1975, Stephen Wallace directed a short film entitled Break Up from the short story ‘Getting it all Together’ published in
Wrappings. More recently, her work was remembered in two ABC radio broadcasts,
Vicki’s Voice in 2005 and
Feathers/Songs/Scars in 2008 produced by Robyn Ravlich.
During her writing career Vicki travelled widely, living on and off in India. Her interest in Indian life and culture was reflected in her writings, particularly India Ink.
A tribute to Vicki was held at the Sydney Writers Festival in May 2010, with the release of
Vicki Viidikas - New and Rediscovered (Transit Lounge 2010).
She continued to write prolifically up until her untimely death on the 27 November 1998.
Further reading:
