Poetry

Another brilliant Melbourne Writers Festival session, this time with Aboriginal poet Ali Cobby Eckermann (middle) and Pacific Island poet Selina Tusitala Marsh (left).

The best panels feel more like a conversation, and this one was wonderfully facilitated by Eleanor Jackson (right), who created space for each poet to respond to her questions.

Some of my favourite lines from the panel –

Selina – To have power, you have to have true humbleness. You can’t have one without the other.

Selina – There’s a responsibility to find your own voice. Read a lot. Try on the voice of a respected poet. Always push to hone your unique voice.

Ali – Talking to the sky helped to heal the little girl who loved stories but was told she was wrong.

I bought a book each from both Ali and Selina – both signed. Ali wrote that ‘our stories live in our land’. Selina wrote – may your tightrope be forever taut.

Ruby Moonlight is a verse novel by Ali about a young Aboriginal girl who witnesses the massacre of her mob, and finds a new way to live. With lyrical language that just sings, Ali draws readers into Ruby’s world. It would make a wonderful addition to anyone studying Australian history.

Birds

senses shattered by loss
she staggers to follow bird song
trust nature

chirping red-browed finches lead to water
ringneck parrots place berries in her path
trust nature

honeyeaters flit the route to sweet grevillea
owls nest in her eyes
trust nature

Tightrope is a collection of poems, about the theme of walking a tightrope over an abyss. I particularly liked the Queens section, with tributes and observations to Queen Elizabeth II (who Selina performed for), Oprah, Alice Walker and Dr Ngahuia. Tightrope also includes some black-out poems – where poems have been created, often less than ten words, from blacking out words from an article or novel page, creating a poem from the remaining words.

The working mother’s guide to reading seventy books a year

Don’t have the babies

Don’t have a full-time job

Don’t be working class

Don’t be time poor and extended family rich

If you did have the babies, don’t let them play sports
Definitely don’t let them play an instrument
(extramural activities increase peak-hour traffic commuting time)

Strong voices, authentic power.

I’ve had a busy week doing ‘all the things’ – you know, from work to parenting to writing to life admin to volunteering … And as I couldn’t fit in one more of the ‘things’, I decided to repost this blog post about poems from a couple of years ago. Because even with all the ‘things’, there is still room for a little poetry.

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I’ve recently had a few conversations about poems with strangers in public places – not something I usually do!

A couple of weeks ago, I had two meetings in the city to discuss corporate storytelling workshops, where I mentioned that I often use poetry as examples for rhythm, alliteration, metaphor and similes. On the way home, I hopped on and off a tram, and as I was waiting at a stop for the next tram, an older lady sitting on the tram bench started chatting to me. At first, I was a little non-committal but then I remembered my manners and turned to her to engage in the conversation properly. We discussed tram timetables, wearing heels and the weather before she asked me what I did. When I replied that I was an editor and writer, she almost jumped out of her seat and hugged me – ‘So am I!’ she said. So Jean (because we were on a first name basis pretty quickly!) told me how she edited and wrote small books on Christian poetry. And they had just organised a second print run for their latest collection.

This week, I was reading a book in a waiting room while filling in time for an appointment when the receptionist and another patient started discussing this patient’s wife’s book. I did eavesdrop for a little while – and then joined in the conversation and found out that the book in question was a book of poetry.

So, for anyone who has ever doubted that poetry was not relevant or commercial to Australians today – they are wrong, because I have two random conversations to prove it!

I have always enjoyed reading poetry and regret that I don’t read enough of it now. My cousin Cath lent me a book of poetry as a kid, and I loved it so much, I bought my own copy which I still have. There are certain poems which have stayed with me, and I thought I’d share them here.

Cinderella by Roald Dahl – I learnt this funny poem off by heart as a kid and my kids think it’s hilarious today.

The highway man by Alfred Noyes – this poem was in my cousin’s book and it is still a favourite. You have probably heard or read this one. I doubly loved it when Anne in the mini-series, Anne of Green Gables, recited it at a Prince Edward Island competition. I recently used it as an example in a grade 4 writing workshop.

Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson – I studied this poem in VCE Literature. My teacher was a fabulous poetry teacher and really helped us to understand the significance of each line. I still have his handout with faded type, and my pencil notes written in the margins. Think I will have this tattooed on my forehead when I’m older.

How do I love thee? by Elizabeth Barrett Browning – I chose to have a few lines from this poem printed on our wedding booklets – which as of last week, was nineteen years ago!

The journey by Mary Oliver – once I had kids, I really appreciated this poem. It is relevant to everyone, no matter what stage of your journey.

Anyone else have a favourite poem to share? Or tell me about the ‘things’ you are doing?

Voice and power in poetry

Five poems which made my heart sing!