Poets & Poems
Barka – murrdie (Darling, black person)
By Paul Collis
~ Barkindji interpretations provided by Kevin Knight and Wayne Knight
Murrdie - Barka
Black person - my darling.
Barka, Barka, murrdie Barkindji murrdie
My darling, my darling, black Barkindji person
Nga, kappa
I ...
Un-named
By Paul Collis
~ Barkindji interpretations provided by Kevin Knight and Wayne Knight
he strode the bank of the Darling, a stranger.
And claimed it his.(Spit)
The stranger on the banks…
- that white ...
The Disappearing
The Disappearing has been redeveloped and we invite you to submit your poems about fading and disappeared places and spaces. Explore now »
Rain dancing...
By Paul Collis
~ Barkindji interpretations provided by Kevin Knight and Wayne Knight
Barkindji
Wathu, wiimpatja - wathu Punritj
Make it, watharna,
Watharna kumpatja makarra.
Grandfather, Miikika, speak Barkindji to me.
Yaparra yaamari. Yaamari.
Stay ...
Ngayrayagal didjurigur (Soon enough)
By Joel Davison
~ poem is written partially in Gadigal with interpretations by Joel Davison
Ngayrayagal didjurigur
Soon enough
Soon enough
Birragu gudjibi
Hollow and decayed
Wurral gujimay
Sluggish and blinded
Wiribay dagura
Worn ...
My City
By Joel Davison
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~ poem is written partially in Gadigal
A city stands on ancestral lands |
The Wounded Brave
By Joel Davison
~ poem is written partially in Gadigal with interpretations by Joel Davison
Bayawurradyangun, djirrundyangun
We are all wounded, we all fear
Ngabay midyungngunbuni ngaliya
Together, you and I, we will heal ...
Banggang Cūndū (Old Tree)
By Joel Deaves
~ poem is written partially in Gumea Dharawal, with interpretations by Joel.
Gumea Dharawal:
Nandhirra ngundāmurrajāng ngala walbūgging ngia
Nandhirra ngundāmurrajāng ngallaēnmarri māndijāngwūlunyun ngia
Ngaradha yanggamarri ngūranyaga ngia
Wadgamānya ngundāmurrajāng būlwūlpa ...
Ngurrparringu (Forgotten)
By Matthew Heffernan
~ Pintupi-Luritja interpretation guided by Lavinia Heffernan
Irriti ngurra Warumpila ngayulu nyinapayi. Pulinguru walpangku ngyunya yunpa pampunu.
A long time ago, I lived on the land of my people, Warumpi. From ...
Yanha-mam-birra – Release
By Jeanine Leane
This poem is written partially in Wiradjuri.
The space of my emptiness is a chasm so deep so wide
I’ll fall to endless nothing without your words to cross ...
Nginha-gulia nyiang – These words
By Jeanine Leane
~ Wiradjuri interpretations provided by Aunty Elaine Lomas
These words cry out and I hear them – learn to mould
and shape them like clay.
There should have been a time for ...
Nurambang yali – Country speaks
By Jeanine Leane
~ Wiradjuri interpretations provided by Aunty Elaine Lomas
It’s been too long since I sat on granite in my
Country and thought
Too many years since I breathed this air ...
Ban Maganindadjyang (My Old People Done)
By Jacob Morris
~ poem is written in Gumea Dharawal, with interpretations by Jacob.
Gumea-Dharawal
Waagl Ngura Ngiagaang, Ban Gili Maganindadjyang
Naantharra Ngura Ngiagaang, Ban Gili Maganindadjyang
Gunama Ngura Ngiagaang, Ban Gili Maganindadjyang
Yanggam ...
Language flows as river
By Nicole Smede
~ Gumea Dharawal interpretation provided by Jodi Edwards
Born of lung, egress to mouth
rounded in hollow caverns,
our subterranean caves.
Tapered tongues, lapping ridges
in glottal patterns depart
parted lips ...
Bugiya, Naway, Burradja (Yesterday, today and tomorrow)
By Lyndsay Urquhart
~ Written with Dharawal, Dhurga and Darumba interpretations provided by Vikki Parsley and Jodi Edwards.
Mida mumu step
One little step
Bular mumu step
Two little step
Bright lights blind my ...
Mina Mina en Moruya
By Lyndsay Urquhart
~ Written with Dharawal, Dhurga and Darumba interpretations provided by Vikki Parsley and Jodi Edwards.
Yabun, where are you?
Travelling – Bimeringal daragan to Gadu
Tarrawarra and gunyu’s go to rest ...
Mudjis and Yiliman (Friends and Spears)
By Lyndsay Urquhart
~ Written with Dharawal, Dhurga and Darumba interpretations provided by Vikki Parsley and Jodi Edwards.
Reach to the birrung, if you dare
For our ancestors they live there
Ngura bugiya
I ...