Poets & Poems
Bahloo
By Evelyn Araluen
~ For Aunty Gloria Mathews
bahloo
I am watching you watch me
with light carried by voice gentle
voice soft
voice to call all my world of sound of sight
bahloo ...
2560
By Ethan Bell
~ Dharawal interpretation provided by Jodi Edwards
Mingang Budjari– What’s Good
been a long time since I nandhi– Seen– you in the neighbourhood
Still kicking at the same spots
the ...
The Disappearing
The Disappearing has been redeveloped and we invite you to submit your poems about fading and disappeared places and spaces. Explore now »
Bury me
By Ethan Bell
~ Ngunawal interpretations provided by Jai Bell
Ngunawal
Wandiny Indegee Birag Gamaari Nganiny Yabang Yaradhang
Bagiiny Indegee Bur
Bur
Ngurungal
Ganan Indegee Bundaa
Gawar Barabi Gaway Djambari
Bandu Naga Djirang
Yarabanali ...
Rain dancing...
By Paul Collis
~ Barkindji interpretations provided by Kevin Knight and Wayne Knight
Wathu, wiimpatja– wathu Punritj
Make it watharna,
Watharna kumpatja makarra.
Grandfather, Miikika, speak Barkindji to me.
Yaparra yaamari. Yaamari.
Stay Miikika ...
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 bank …
—that white ...
Heart Thunderstorm
By Paul Collis
~ Barkindji interpretations provided by Kevin Knight and Wayne Knight
Barka’s dyin. . .
no breath no breath
dust coughin through a dusty coffin, she’s spread, dyin
purlu-kanirla pirnti-karntu
purlu-kanirla pirnti-karntu ...
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
|
~ poem is written partially in Gadigal
A city stands on ancestral lands |
The Wounded Brave
By Joel Davison
~ poem written partially in Gadigal, with interpretations by Joel
Bayawurradyangun, djirrundyangun
We are all wounded, we all fear
Ngabay midyungngunbuni ngaliya
Together, you and I, we will heal
Narangla ngaramila ...
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 ...
Bigger Than School Stuff
By Declan Furber Gillick
Tyrone, all our families used to speak
that language here
And then slowly people stopped
They lost it.
It got taken away or they forgot it
or it got covered ...
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 ...
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 ...
Yanha-mam-birra – Release
By Jeanine Leane
~ Wiradjuri interpretations provided by Aunty Elaine Lomas
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 ...