Poets & Poems
Rain dancing...
By Paul Collis
Barkindji:
Wathu, wiimpatja - wathu Punritj
Make it, watharna,
Watharna kumpatja makarra.
Grandfather, Miikika, speak Barkindji to me.
Yaparra yaamari. Yaamari.
Stay Miikika. Paljarta (wait). Don’t leave ngina
Make the ...
Barka – murrdie (Darling, black person)
By Paul Collis
This poem is partially in Barkindji.
Murrdie - Barka
Black person - my darling.
Barka, Barka, murrdie Barkindji murrdie
My darling, my darling, black Barkindji person
Nga, kappa
I will follow.
Nhantarna ...
The Disappearing
The Disappearing has been redeveloped and we invite you to submit your poems about fading and disappeared places and spaces. Explore now »
Un-named
By Paul Collis
This poem is partially in Barkindji.
he strode the bank of the Darling, a stranger.
And claimed it his.(Spit)
The stranger on the banks…
- that white Jesus, didn't ...
The Wounded Brave
By Joel Davison
This poem is written partially in Gadigal.
Bayawurradyangun, djirrundyangun
We are all wounded, we all fear
Ngabay midyungngunbuni ngaliya
Together, you and I, we will heal
Narangla ngaramila, ganunigang bayawurra ...
Ngayrayagal didjurigur (Soon enough)
By Joel Davison
Ngayrayagal didjurigur
Soon enough
Soon enough
Birragu gudjibi
Hollow and decayed
Wurral gujimay
Sluggish and blinded
Wiribay dagura
Worn out and cold
Dudbadjami
You concealed yourself
Nanga
Sleepy
Wulumi Birragu ...
My City
By Joel Davison
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A city stands on ancestral lands |
Banggang Cūndū (Old Tree)
By Joel Deaves
Gumea Dharawal:
Nandhirra ngundāmurrajāng ngala walbūgging ngia
Nandhirra ngundāmurrajāng ngallaēnmarri māndijāngwūlunyun ngia
Ngaradha yanggamarri ngūranyaga ngia
Wadgamānya ngundāmurrajāng būlwūlpa galina
Ngaradha jerralali yagiabilla ngia
Būwnj ngurajāng dharundharung gilinya ngia
Nandhirra ...
Ngurrparringu (Forgotten)
By Matthew Heffernan
In Pintupi-Luritja English in italics
(with assistance from Lavinia Heffernan)
Irriti ngurra Warumpila ngayulu nyinapayi. Pulinguru walpangku ngyunya yunpa pampunu.
A long time ago, I lived on the land of ...
The Gatherers
By Jeanine Leane
This poem is written partially in Wiradjuri.
Gunhinarrung learnt to gather – map Country
with little feet as morning’s pink horizons bring heat
and light to long-water Murrumbidgee women gather ...
Nginha-gulia nyiang – These words
By Jeanine Leane
This poem is written partially in Wiradjuri.
These words cry out and I hear them – learn to mould
and shape them like clay.
There should have been a time for ...
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 ...
Nurambang yali – Country speaks
By Jeanine Leane
This poem is written partially in Wiradjuri.
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
Gumea-Dharawal
Waagl Ngura Ngiagaang, Ban Gili Maganindadjyang
Naantharra Ngura Ngiagaang, Ban Gili Maganindadjyang
Gunama Ngura Ngiagaang, Ban Gili Maganindadjyang
Yanggam Ngura Ngiagaang, Ban Gili Maganindadjyang
Krabre Ngura Ngiagaang, Ban Gili ...
Mina Mina en Moruya
By Lyndsay Urquhart
Drawing on Dhurga, Dharawal and Darumba Languages:
Yabun, where are you?
Travelling – Bimeringal daragan to Gadu
Tarrawarra and gunyu’s go to rest.
Moruya.
English:
Speak up, where are you ...
Bugiya, Naway, Burradja (Yesterday, today and tomorrow)
By Lyndsay Urquhart
Drawing on Dhurga, Dharawal and Darumba Languages:
Mida mumu step
One little step
Bular mumu step
Two little step
Bright lights blind my mabura
Bright lights blind my eyes\
not ...
Mudjis and Yiliman (Friends and Spears)
By Lyndsay Urquhart
This poem uses words from Darumba, Dhurga, Dharawal, Tharawal.
Reach to the birrung, if you dare
For our ancestors they live there
Ngura bugiya
I hear yesterday
Yukon guwin
speak ...
Baladjarang
By Adrian Webster
Gumea Dharawhal:
Naandthara cūndūlali ngia, naandtha ngiagaan
Naandthara gūrabānlali ngia, naandtha ngiagaan
Naandthara budjahnlali ngia, naandtha ngiagaan
Naandthara nudjūng ngia, naandtha ngiagaan
Naandthara Ngurra ngia, naandtha ngiagaan
Naandthara ngiagaan ngia ...