Poetry
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Priest and author Matthew Fox believes that poetry can redeem language; that poetry is the second step in the creative relationship between humans and nature after artists have expressed their direct experience with nature through images. In these days of spin doctors and political speak, psycho-babble and virtual language, poetry can be a balm for the soul, a joy for the heart, a place of authenticity and a space where one can truly surrender. I started writing these poems in early 2007 in a process of personal disassembling and reassembling when I realised I had reached the limits of activism in sustainability. At that point I began to crawl into the soil and sky of this place where I live – the home of the Wangerriburra people in Yugambeh Country, Binna Burra, South East Queensland Australia. I’ve been gathering up some of these poems in a collection called “My Black Heart – Love letters from Wangerriburra Land” which I hope will be part of a combined photographic/poetry exhibition with my sister Cal in early 2010. It’s about the experience of being an invader on Murri land and the journey to learn to see and hear with a blackfella heart that’s embedded in Country. I’m now growing a second little collection under the title “Sentinals and Saints” which is inspired by my lifelong love of trees. A few of the poems from both of these collections are presented here with gratitude and humility – they are not ‘my creations’ but a gentle record of an ongoing conversation with this land. |
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Sentinals and Saints (Latest Writings
Exploring Resilience and Prosperity Discussion Paper Learning Together as we Go - Conference Paper Who will help bury the body - A birthday meditation Sentinals and Saints My black heart - love letters from wangerriburra land Turning on a sixpence - Creating a learning foundation for community engagement