About the book

The 10 year anniversary edition.

Written over a 10 year period while employed as a security guard, paid to wait and watch, ‘Sydney…’ is a book of observation, full of variations on the poetics of surveillance: brief, “objective” descriptions of the world itself (“no ideas except in things”, as William Carlos Williams would have it).

The city and its wildlife, garbage, social interactions and antagonisms: Texilake notes them all, whether human or other-than-human, and shares them as they are to the eyes of a working part of that city.

A Vicious Example was shortlisted for the 2015 Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry, the Mary Gilmore Award and the Australian Book Design Awards.

About the Author

Michael Aiken Texilake is a devoted single parent to four unique and delightful people. Texilake previously published work under his original name - Michael Aiken - in part as a nod to the near-lost “Objectivist” poet Carl Rakosi, who in 1929 legally changed his name to Callman Rawley in an effort to avoid anti-immigrant discrimination in the US.

Texilake’s first notable publications were in 2004 with the now-defunct vibewire website, where he was selected first as runner up (by guest editor Anthony Lawrence, for the brief poem ‘Theft by lack of discovery’) and a month later as ‘young poet in residence’ (by MTC Cronin) for his 40 page surveillance poem, ‘Sydney: 1934 1392k1 - 1811 1682k2’.

Since then his work has appeared in journals and anthologies in Australia and overseas, including John Tranter’s Journal of Poetics Research, Plumwood Mountain, and Cordite Poetry Review. In 2006 his ‘Victoria St, Darlinghurst’ was selected for inclusion in Best Australian Poetry (UQP).

A graduate of the University of Wollongong’s Writing program, where he studied under John A. Scott, Alan Wearne, Merlinda Bobis, John Hawke and Anthony Macris, Texilake also completed an honours degree in English Literature with the University of New England, critiquing the work of John Milton and J.R.R. Tolkien, and completing a major thesis on the writing of US poet August Kleinzahler. Texilake also completed a Masters in International Security with the University of Sydney.

Professionally, Michael developed a career in the NSW security industry over 13 years, during which the bulk of this book was written. He has also worked as an arts journalist, sound engineer, copywriter, musician, census collector, life model, disability support worker, television extra, tutor, shop assistant, risk assessor, chicken catcher and telephone sales manager, as well as a labourer in concreting, bricklaying, roofing and diamond drilling. From 2009 - 2019 he worked at a major university in health communication and health literacy promotion, which involved everything from redesigning websites and managing marketing teams, to briefing ministers and academics, to planning public lecture series and recruiting new staff and students.

In his spare time he has continuously developed his writing, including writing, performing and recording songs with several key collaborators, particularly his long-term creative partner and dear friend, Carolyn Nowaczyk.

From 2019 - 2023 he founded and managed the beloved arts and community-focused Garden Lounge Creative Space in Newtown, Sydney. Over those five years he operated the space as a centre for co-work and collaboration, as well as a book retailer specialising in new, independent poetry; and also as a cafe and bar hosting inclusive all-ages live music events, poetry readings, workshops, book launches, slams, art exhibitions, drag shows, public conversations and more.

Since his diagnosis of Complex-PTSD and ADHD, and as a survivor of both domestic violence and discrimination in the Australian justice system, Texilake has been obliged to step back from working life. He is currently studying the Juris Doctor program at the University of Technology, Sydney, with a view to pursuing work in disability advocacy and law reform.

He continues to write in various forms, play music and organise public events, and is currently Creative Director of Poetry Sydney’s annual event marking the birth of Charles Baudelaire.