Poetry
Poetry
White
White
I am Aboriginal, but I am white...
I am Aboriginal, but I am white...
And I know that’s confusing but if you listen you might,
And I know that’s confusing but if you listen you might,
See what makes me this way is the blood in my veins,
See what makes me this way is the blood in my veins,
Some from Germany and Ireland, and Australian plains.
Some from Germany and Ireland, and Australian plains.
Now I know what you’re thinking, such a tiny percent?
Now I know what you’re thinking, such a tiny percent?
And you’re right, in terms of science, if that’s your intent,
And you’re right, in terms of science, if that’s your intent,
But as people, we’re more than our bio you see,
But as people, we’re more than our bio you see,
I am human, I am dreaming, I am spirit, I am me.
I am human, I am dreaming, I am spirit, I am me.
My connection to country may be tainted by fate,
My connection to country may be tainted by fate,
For the history of my ancestors is both violent and great,
For the history of my ancestors is both violent and great,
I am complex in terms of ancestral past,
I am complex in terms of ancestral past,
Call me diluted, weakened, or less than half-caste.
Call me diluted, weakened, or less than half-caste.
But the reason I’m white, if you ponder you might,
But the reason I’m white, if you ponder you might,
Just see that the causes are something of height,
Just see that the causes are something of height,
My colour is the result of a love between races,
My colour is the result of a love between races,
Of the footsteps and risks that my forefather faces,
Of the footsteps and risks that my forefather faces,
In a time when their coupling was something of rarity,
In a time when their coupling was something of rarity,
My ancestors were brave and sought love as their clarity,
My ancestors were brave and sought love as their clarity,
I am proud of my heritage, regardless of my skin,
I am proud of my heritage, regardless of my skin,
And this place is my home, it is where I find kin,
And this place is my home, it is where I find kin,
I’m Aboriginal by spirit, by belonging to this place,
I’m Aboriginal by spirit, by belonging to this place,
So consider my depth and don't categorise my face.
So consider my depth and don't categorise my face.
Last Old Friend
Last Old Friend
On a rainy Sunday I turned eighty-three,
On a rainy Sunday I turned eighty-three,
And right by the bed, you sat with me.
And right by the bed, you sat with me.
You looked at my hand, I looked at your smile,
You looked at my hand, I looked at your smile,
We sat in the silence, then talked for a while.
We sat in the silence, then talked for a while.
I told you that you were my last old friend,
I told you that you were my last old friend,
And I saw the confusion on your face extend.
And I saw the confusion on your face extend.
I explained that we'd met over ten years ago,
I explained that we'd met over ten years ago,
On a warm summer day, by my Winnebago.
On a warm summer day, by my Winnebago.
You had asked for a spanner, or a tool of some sort,
You had asked for a spanner, or a tool of some sort,
And we'd finished the day with a bottle of port.
And we'd finished the day with a bottle of port.
At that point in time it had not crossed my mind,
At that point in time it had not crossed my mind,
In that moment, you'd be the last old friend I'd find.
In that moment, you'd be the last old friend I'd find.
Since we met I've known others, family and friends,
Since we met I've known others, family and friends,
But quite often for them, I've been a means to an end,
But quite often for them, I've been a means to an end,
People come and go, but rarely do stay,
People come and go, but rarely do stay,
And with that I'm reminded of you and that day.
And with that I'm reminded of you and that day.
We laughed and we shared, and we drank, and we cried,
We laughed and we shared, and we drank, and we cried,
And we held each other as our older friends died.
And we held each other as our older friends died.
We visited each other, and wrote via letter,
We visited each other, and wrote via letter,
And when you got ill I'd pray you'd get better.
And when you got ill I'd pray you'd get better.
As I lied on the bed, on that rainy day in June,
As I lied on the bed, on that rainy day in June,
I knew I'd be leaving, passing by soon.
I knew I'd be leaving, passing by soon.
I never knew how important our friendship would be,
I never knew how important our friendship would be,
My last old friend, and the last one I see.
My last old friend, and the last one I see.
The Very Rough Migration of Two Little Fruit Bats
The Very Rough Migration of Two Little Fruit Bats
Two little fruits bats climbed upon a tree,
Two little fruits bats climbed upon a tree,
A place to call home, they hung there with glee.
A place to call home, they hung there with glee.
The evening was quiet, the sky ever black,
The evening was quiet, the sky ever black,
They’d found a high branch, on which they could slack.
They’d found a high branch, on which they could slack.
Soon came the ‘morrow, but the sky hadn’t changed,
Soon came the ‘morrow, but the sky hadn’t changed,
Darkness encompassed the view they’d arranged.
Darkness encompassed the view they’d arranged.
A keeper walked sulking from the nearby abode,
A keeper walked sulking from the nearby abode,
Looked at the sky, and near fell off the road.
Looked at the sky, and near fell off the road.
For above him was a wave of wings and flock;
For above him was a wave of wings and flock;
A sky made of feathers, it gave him a shock.
A sky made of feathers, it gave him a shock.
For as far as he saw, no glimpses of blue,
For as far as he saw, no glimpses of blue,
So he followed the pathway, the mass of birds flew.
So he followed the pathway, the mass of birds flew.
Straight cross the lawn, over a fence,
Straight cross the lawn, over a fence,
Down a steep gully, building suspense,
Down a steep gully, building suspense,
The flock had a target, the giant old gum,
The flock had a target, the giant old gum,
They aimed for the branch with the bat and his chum.
They aimed for the branch with the bat and his chum.
The plovers were nasty, all swoopy and dumb,
The plovers were nasty, all swoopy and dumb,
“You can’t hang round ‘ere, go back where ya from.”
“You can’t hang round ‘ere, go back where ya from.”
An owl tried to reason, play middle ground,
An owl tried to reason, play middle ground,
“There’s plenty of room, down close to the ground.”
“There’s plenty of room, down close to the ground.”
Some lorikeets defended, “diversity is real”
Some lorikeets defended, “diversity is real”
While a Kookaburra laughed and left for a meal.
While a Kookaburra laughed and left for a meal.
“Why on earth, are you upside down?”
“Why on earth, are you upside down?”
Asked a daft little Galah, wearing a frown.
Asked a daft little Galah, wearing a frown.
A magpie got clever, and tried on his tricks,
A magpie got clever, and tried on his tricks,
“Have you thought about sleeping on a pile of sticks?”
“Have you thought about sleeping on a pile of sticks?”
The crows joined the magpie, attempting persuasion,
The crows joined the magpie, attempting persuasion,
“What if your old home was the place of invasion?”
“What if your old home was the place of invasion?”
Not sure what to do, the bats hung quite still,
Not sure what to do, the bats hung quite still,
To leave their new home? Or stay for the thrill?
To leave their new home? Or stay for the thrill?
“I see you up there,” called the Emu below.
“I see you up there,” called the Emu below.
“Don’t worry yourselves with the Maggie and Crow.
“Don’t worry yourselves with the Maggie and Crow.
They all called me names, just because I can’t fly.
They all called me names, just because I can’t fly.
But we’re stronger than that and I’ll tell you why.
But we’re stronger than that and I’ll tell you why.
That tree is not theirs, it’s for all wings to share,
That tree is not theirs, it’s for all wings to share,
And we’re all pretty different, from our talk to our hair.
And we’re all pretty different, from our talk to our hair.
If they’re worried for looks, or where you were born,
If they’re worried for looks, or where you were born,
They aren’t worth your worry, they aren’t worth your scorn.”
They aren’t worth your worry, they aren’t worth your scorn.”
And with that the great emu chucked them a smile,
And with that the great emu chucked them a smile,
Jumped off the ground and sprinted a mile.
Jumped off the ground and sprinted a mile.
The two little fruit bats, a new sense of calm,
The two little fruit bats, a new sense of calm,
Stayed in their spot, on the tree by the farm.
Stayed in their spot, on the tree by the farm.
Eventually the birds who were rude, found new things to hate,
Eventually the birds who were rude, found new things to hate,
But the ones who were kind, made a new mate.
But the ones who were kind, made a new mate.
Social Media
Social Media
A heavy-set man wheezes through his chins, as a pool of mustard builds in his crevices; he is bold.
A heavy-set man wheezes through his chins, as a pool of mustard builds in his crevices; he is bold.
He drags the mustard, now on his fingers, across the trackpad, scrolling through; the porn never getting old.
He drags the mustard, now on his fingers, across the trackpad, scrolling through; the porn never getting old.
A girl of twelve, just out of the bowl, runs to the screen and watches; she's thinner than thin, her stomach sinks.
A girl of twelve, just out of the bowl, runs to the screen and watches; she's thinner than thin, her stomach sinks.
She smashes refresh, a desperate plee, for any reactions to set her free. Nobody cares, she thinks.
She smashes refresh, a desperate plee, for any reactions to set her free. Nobody cares, she thinks.
Ji walks down the street with a bounce in each step, a feeling of warmth penetrating the tarmac below.
Ji walks down the street with a bounce in each step, a feeling of warmth penetrating the tarmac below.
Fiddling with a matchstick, jumping the cracks, Ji crosses a road and corner; searching a new place to go.
Fiddling with a matchstick, jumping the cracks, Ji crosses a road and corner; searching a new place to go.
A guy in his twenties, face mask extended, blinks on webcam with a rifle; love isn't something he's seen.
A guy in his twenties, face mask extended, blinks on webcam with a rifle; love isn't something he's seen.
He screams in his tongue of choice, mirroring in his script and ideologies; building an army unclean.
He screams in his tongue of choice, mirroring in his script and ideologies; building an army unclean.
A woman of wanting, a rage in her belly, hits the power with fiery purpose; the wait brings red.
A woman of wanting, a rage in her belly, hits the power with fiery purpose; the wait brings red.
She stamps her review - vomit - without second thought, but with third and fourth insults and five curse words said.
She stamps her review - vomit - without second thought, but with third and fourth insults and five curse words said.
A weary gate cracks behind Ji, passing through overgrown fields; a tenderness in each foot is growing.
A weary gate cracks behind Ji, passing through overgrown fields; a tenderness in each foot is growing.
Without a device or connection, and no social media; for Ji, there's no worry, they keep going.
Without a device or connection, and no social media; for Ji, there's no worry, they keep going.
An Ode to Toilet Paper
An Ode to Toilet Paper
Oh, toilet paper,
Oh, toilet paper,
As white as snow,
As white as snow,
You always helped,
You always helped,
At the end of the flow.
At the end of the flow.
Oh, toilet paper,
Oh, toilet paper,
With many a use,
With many a use,
For noses and bottoms,
For noses and bottoms,
You've suffered abuse.
You've suffered abuse.
Oh, toilet paper,
Oh, toilet paper,
So rare and so sweet,
So rare and so sweet,
Who would have thought,
Who would have thought,
You'd become such a treat.
You'd become such a treat.
Oh, toilet paper,
Oh, toilet paper,
You're making us nuts,
You're making us nuts,
Fighting in aisles,
Fighting in aisles,
By hungry big butts.
By hungry big butts.
An Ode to my Left Elbow
An Ode to my Left Elbow
Oh, left elbow.
Oh, left elbow.
You have no point.
You have no point.
Except for the fact,
Except for the fact,
You are a joint.
You are a joint.
Oh, left elbow.
Oh, left elbow.
How you bend.
How you bend.
Not quite a right angle,
Not quite a right angle,
But we can pretend.
But we can pretend.
Oh, left elbow.
Oh, left elbow.
You're ugly as heck.
You're ugly as heck.
With a wrinkly exterior,
With a wrinkly exterior,
And an arm for a neck.
And an arm for a neck.
Bernard
Bernard
Bernard was a bird, all covered in white.
Bernard was a bird, all covered in white.
He hid in the daytime and glowed in the night.
He hid in the daytime and glowed in the night.
One day he decided he’d no longer chirp.
One day he decided he’d no longer chirp.
Nor whistle, nor squark, not even a burp.
Nor whistle, nor squark, not even a burp.
He’d heard of a whale who moaned quite a bit,
He’d heard of a whale who moaned quite a bit,
She whined about nothing, but hunger and sh*t.
She whined about nothing, but hunger and sh*t.
Wanda the whale had lived a long time,
Wanda the whale had lived a long time,
But the constant complaining, Bernard thought a crime.
But the constant complaining, Bernard thought a crime.
He once had some friends, when he lived in a store.
He once had some friends, when he lived in a store.
But never spoke to them. Not once, not at all.
But never spoke to them. Not once, not at all.
When he moved to a new home, his owner was shocked,
When he moved to a new home, his owner was shocked,
He kept his mouth quiet, he kept his beak locked.
He kept his mouth quiet, he kept his beak locked.
He wasn’t a Buddhist, nor from Verona.
He wasn’t a Buddhist, nor from Verona.
Bernard was a budgie, with a modest persona.
Bernard was a budgie, with a modest persona.
Elefant
Elefant
There was a purple elefant, as big as big can be,
There was a purple elefant, as big as big can be,
I saw him just the other day, climbing up a tree.
I saw him just the other day, climbing up a tree.
He sat upon a skinny branch, beside a kookaburri,
He sat upon a skinny branch, beside a kookaburri,
And when it cracked the bird took off, in quite an awful hurry.
And when it cracked the bird took off, in quite an awful hurry.
Elefant, who couldn't fly, had no choice but to fall,
Elefant, who couldn't fly, had no choice but to fall,
And so he tumbled down the trunk, the thing was rather tall.
And so he tumbled down the trunk, the thing was rather tall.
He hit his head on every nook, and landed on his bottom,
He hit his head on every nook, and landed on his bottom,
He shook it off, and dusted off, the fail was not a problem.
He shook it off, and dusted off, the fail was not a problem.
Father's Hair
Father's Hair
I cut my father's hair last night,
I cut my father's hair last night,
He wasn't very pleased.
He wasn't very pleased.
I gave him such a great big fright,
I gave him such a great big fright,
He made my mother sneeze,
He made my mother sneeze,
He huffed and puffed and yelled at me,
He huffed and puffed and yelled at me,
I was grounded for a week,
I was grounded for a week,
I went to bed without my tea,
I went to bed without my tea,
And was told to stop my cheek.
And was told to stop my cheek.
I like the way I made it look,
I like the way I made it look,
And all I had to do,
And all I had to do,
Was copy from a great big book,
Was copy from a great big book,
Then say that it was you.
Then say that it was you.