Stolen Australia

26/01/2021 – Poem a Day Compilation



My white skin burns in the sunlight

That has graced this land for millennia

Far longer than my meagre history

Longer than those first peoples



        This light shines brightly now

        On the dark past

        We’ve had hidden from us

        For so long



        Never taught in classrooms

        The blood-stained pages

        Of colonial history

        Finally glowing before my eyes



The knowledge of my privilege burns

Scorching its way through my heart

Hotter than the summer here

More fierce than those raging fires



        It is a privilege born of a sacrifice

        Not my own

        That I must still live with

        As my national shame



        The many who had their lives stolen

        Simply for existing

        The generations stolen

        And traded like cattle



The sting of history burns my soul

A past that I cannot change

Yet cannot accept

While its truth is whitewashed



        The massacre after massacre

        Their lives deemed worthless

        Against the value to a motherland

        Intent on exploitation



        A legacy of children

        Ripped from their parent’s arms

        To be denied their culture

        Their future and their identity



Bridges burnt are slow to rebuild

Generations upon generations

Separated from each other

By more than time



        Covered up by power and greed

        At all levels of society

        Denied by those set to lose

        All they had gained by those misdeeds



        The stench of dishonesty

        Slowly seeping out of the pores

        Of the institutions and associations

        That benefited from those crimes



Would the burning of this candle

Erase the wrongs

Of the country I love

I would light it a million times



        Would it bring back Pemulwuy, 

        The Bediagal killed and maimed

        Or the Awabakal men butchered

        And the nine Yuin people slain?



        Would it resurrect the Dharawal?

        Sixteen shot on site

        Dozens more driven over cliffs –

        The slaughter of men, women an children



There is no cleansing fire that burns

Hot enough to erase the past

And we all must remember

Lest history repeat itself

432 Lines in Protest

08/06/2020 – Iso Well-Being Compilation

 

432       Not one moment

431       Not one event

430       Not one person

429       Not one system

428       Not one state

427       Not one country

426       Not one cry

425       Not one march

424       Not one injustice

423       Not one death

 

422       Who will mourn?

421       Who will grieve?

420       Who will sacrifice?

419       Who will cry out?

418       Who will stand?

417       Who will remember?

416       Who will try?

415       Who will be strong?

414       Who will represent?

413       Who will be an ally?

 

412       Too many lives

411       Too many lies

410       Too often overlooked

409       Too cruel a punishment

408       Too harsh a sentence

407       Too quick to judge

406       Too slow to remember

405       Too hard to forget

404       Too long to suffer

403       Too much pain to bear

 

402       Our brothers   

401       Our sisters

400       Our mothers

399       Our fathers

398       Our aunts

397       Our uncles

396       Our nieces

395       Our nephews

394       Our cousins

393       Our children

 

392       What lessons unlearned?

391       What tragedies unavoided?

390       What souls lost?

389       What crimes unpunished?

388       What anguish felt?

387       What fear overwhelmed?

386       What dying wish?

385       What guilt undealt?

384       What laws broken?

383       What acts covered up?

 

382       So many dreams shatters

381       So many lives taken

380       So many promises unkept

379       So many hearts ripped out

378       So many last breathes

377       So many cries unheard

376       So many wasted years

375       So many chances to change

374       So many voices silenced

373       So many tears for the lost

 

372       Torn from family

371       Torn up inside

370       Torn from home

369       Torn in two

368       Torn from loving arms

367       Torn down in their prime

366       Torn from society

365       Torn apart

364       Torn form this life

363       Torn away

 

362       Never to be reunited 

361       Never to say goodbye              

360       Never treated with respect

359       Never losing heart

358       Never saying die

357       Never surrendering your humanity

356       Never giving in to injustice

355       Never losing sight of the prize

354       Never letting the sun go down

353       Never, ever again

 

352       When justice fails

351       When care breaks down

350       When compassion cuts out

349       When sympathy dies

348       When society crumbles

347       When tears fall

346       When mothers bury children

345       When help is not sought

344       When systems fail

343       When colour decides

 

342       Don’t be afraid

341       Don’t fear the fight

340       Don’t let walls divide us

339       Don’t lecture

338       Don’t preach

337       Don’t speak in place of them

336       Don’t be complacent

335       Don’t target

334       Don’t whitewash

333       Don’t project

 

332       We must correct our mistakes

331       We must learn from our past

330       We must be better allies

329       We must stand together as one

328       We must address the problems

327       We must care for the vulnerable

326       We must protect the innocent

325       We must walk side by side

324       We must not run and hide

323       We must remember their names

 

322       Does a life matter?

321       Does a law have meaning?

320       Does a death trouble us?

319       Does remembering count?

318       Does a leopard change its spots?

317       Does anything change?

316       Does what we do mean anything?

315       Does my voice carry weight?

314       Does what I do help?

313       Does equality exist?

 

312       Despite all that has happened

311       Despite each cry in anger

310       Despite every call for justice

309       Despite the thousands of voices

308       Despite the hundreds of years

307       Despite the inquiries

306       Despite all the promises made

305       Despite ongoing protests

304       Despite all the laws

303       Despite each mournful voice

 

302       Where are our priorities?

301       Where is our heart?

300       Where are the fail-safes?

299       Where is the justice?

298       Where can we turn?

297       Where was the oversight?

296       Where can we go?

295       Where do we draw the line?

294       Where is the humanity?

293       Where does it end?

 

292       Won’t our leaders lead?

291       Won’t they stand with their people?

290       Won’t we all join together?

289       Won’t our voices be heard?

288       Won’t we shine a light?

287       Won’t there be safety for all?

286       Won’t you show them compassion?

285       Won’t you live with the consequences?

284       Won’t you tear down the barriers?

283       Won’t justice be served?

 

282       You can’t have a bad day

281       You can’t keep lying

280       You can’t be the judge

279       You can’t be the jury

278       You can’t be the executioner

277       You can’t excuse it

276       You can’t sweep it under the rug

275       You can’t run away

274       You can’t turn your back

273       You can’t unsee

 

272       Are we complicit?

271       Are we good people?

270       Are we strong enough?

269       Are we empathetic?

268       Are we learning our lessons?

267       Are we improving the system?

266       Are we sympathetic?

265       Are we leading by example?

264       Are we doing what is right?

263       Are we compassionate?

 

262       Another media headline

261       Another soft apology

260       Another suspension without pay

259       Another case with no arrest

258       Another arrest with no conviction

257       Another failed family

256       Another community shattered

255       Another tragedy forecast

254       Another body in a bag

253       Another name on a list

 

252       Stop the deaths

251       Stop the torture

250       Stop the abuse

249       Stop the oppression

248       Stop the vilification

247       Stop the marginalisation

246       Stop the brutality

245       Stop the apathy

244       Stop the discrimination

243       Stop the corruption

 

242       Why can’t we see?

241       Why don’t we act?

240       Why don’t we fix the system?

239       Why can’t we live in peace?

238       Why isn’t there justice?

237       Why won’t anything change?

236       Why the faux outrage?

235       Why the meaningless politics?

234       Why aren’t promises kept?

233       Why does it keep happening?

 

232       I can’t breathe

231       I can’t move on

230       I can’t surrender

229       I can’t be silent

228       I can’t condone this

227       I can’t let it happen

226       I can’t stand on the sidelines

225       I can’t be that person

224       I can’t keep my head down

223       I can’t let this blow over

 

222       It’s systematic

221       It’s insidious

220       It’s vile

219       It’s hopeless

218       It’s immoral

217       It’s uncomfortable

216       It’s shocking

215       It’s contemptable

214       it’s unforgivable

213       It’s inhuman

 

212       They deserve more than candles

211       They are people like me

210       They shouldn’t have to fight

209       They just want equality

208       They were slaughtered by colonialists

207       They need to be heard

206       They were maligned by the government

205       They were here first

204       They should be respected

203       They shouldn’t die for no reason

 

202       Recognise your privilege

201       Recognise the disparity

200       Recognise their plight

199       Recognise the trauma

198       Recognise the culture

197       Recognise the racism

196       Recognise the institutionalism

195       Recognise the damage

194       Recognise the history

193       Recognise your part

 

192       Stand up for equality

191       Stand up and tip the scales

190       Stand up for our country

189       Stand up and be counted

188       Stand up for education

187       Stand up and bear witness

186       Stand up for what’s right

185       Stand up and be heard

184       Stand up when they call you

183       Stand up and fight

 

182       Look to the past

181       Look at what’s gone

180       Look around you

179       Look at who you support

178       Look in your own backyard

177       Look at your actions

176       Look for the signs

175       Look at what’s been taken

174       Look fear in the eye

173       Look at what’s been lost

 

172       How do we change?

171       How do we forgive?

170       How do we move on?

169       How do we exist?

168       How do we pay tribute?

167       How do we unite?

166       How do we make restitution?

165       How do we retell their stories?

164       How do we remember?

163       How do we run when we can’t crawl?

 

162       Be persistent

161       Be courageous

160       Be smart

159       Be conscious

158       Be aware

157       Be well read

156       Be resilient

155       Be proud

154       Be humble

153       Be as one

 

152       I’m at a loss

151       I’m ashamed

150       I’m saddened

149       I’m appalled

148       I’m grieving

147       I’m protesting

146       I’m overcome

154       I’m trying

144       I’m insignificant

143       I’m sorry

 

142       Hold your head high

141       Hold that mass, vicar

140       Hold on to each other

139       Hold open that door

138       Hold on to your courage

137       Hold on to your heritage

136       Hold that candlelight vigil

135       Hold up your banners

134       Hold leaders to account

133       Hold on to your prinicples

 

132       Face up to reality

131       Face your fears

130       Face the abuse head on

129       Face into the wind

128       Face the night bravely

127       Face the sun’s full force

126       Face the oncoming storm

125       Face your own demons

124       Face the harsh facts

123       Face up to your privilege

 

122       Hope for the future

121       Hope for justice, finally

120       Hope there is an end

119       Hope for a turning point

118       Hope is what we need

117       Hope for peace

116       Hope we can learn

115       Hope for change

114       Hope may bring us together

113       Hope above all else

 

112       Could I do more?

111       Could we fight a little harder

110       Could you try your best?

109       Could they use our help?

108       Could we make the world better?

107       Could there be a solution?

106       Could rise to the challenge?

105       Could you walk the walk?

104       Could we talk the talk?

103       Could it be that easy?

 

102       Raise your hand

101       Raise a flag

100       Raise your voice

99          Raise the roof

98         Raise the issues

97         Raise a glass

96         Raise others in victory

95         Raise spirits in defeat

94         Raise awareness all around you

93         Raise children without bias

 

92          Support those in need

91         Support those with no voice

90         Support all of humanity

89         Support justice for all

88         Support those who are fighting

87         Support with all your might

86         Support children without parents

85         Support parents without children

84         Support those who are grieving

83         Support what is right

 

82          Create a better world to live in

81         Create a safe place in your life

80         Create a scene in displeasure

79         Create beauty instead of hate

78         Create love where there was fear

77         Create a foundation of us

76         Create meaning not mayhem

75         Create shared victories

74         Create a collaboration

73         Create a future worth having

 

72          Welcome the different

71         Welcome colour and creed

70         Welcome all cultures

69         Welcome soulful pleas

68         Welcome freedom

67         Welcome triumph

66         Welcome knowledge of old

65         Welcome the dreamtime

64         Welcome new friends

63         Welcome to country

 

62          Would you spare a minute?

61         Would you take the time?

60         Would you open your mind?

59         Would you be one of the many?

58         Would you be left behind?

57         Would you fight for their freedom?

56         Would you give them a hand?

57         Would you accept their history?

54         Would you change your point of view?

53         Would you understand?

 

52          Hear the elders

51          Hear the children

50          Hear the downtrodden

49          Hear the neglected

48          Hear the wise

47          Hear the wounded

46          Hear the silenced

45          Hear the pain and the torment

44          Hear the last words

43          Hear the war cries

 

42          Donate your time

41         Donate your energy

40         Donate you will

39         Donate your brain power

38         Donate spare coins

37         Donate your words

36         Donate your privilege

35         Donate your expertise

34         Donate your voice

33         Donate what you can

 

32          This is who we are

31          This is what we become

30          This is what we allow

29          This is our legacy

28          This is why we fight

27          This is a nation divided

26          This is us on the brink

25          This is choosing our path

24          This is not good enough

23          This is everything

 

22          Light a candle for the fallen

21         Light a torch to see the way

20         Light the night for your sisters

19         Light the way for your brothers

18         Light a path for the weary

17         Light your heart with love

16         Light up the injustices

15         Light the fuse for a better tomorrow

14         Light a fire under the recalcitrant

13         Light dawns on a new day

 

12          Because we are complacent

11          Because it’s too hard

10          Because we don’t use our privilege

9            Because we haven’t learned

8            Because it doesn’t affect us

7            Because maybe we can grow

6            Because we are in this together

5            Because no one is perfect

4            Because we have to do better

3            Because we have no excuse

 

2            Is there anybody listening?

1            Is there anybody here?

Walking with your eyes closed

30/05/2020 - Iso Well-Being Compilation

 

I’ve been on this planet for forty years

And I’ve seen my fair share of trouble.

I’ve known what it is to be the victim

From when I was a little child.

I’ve had my trust betrayed by family,

Been laughed at for feeling fear.

I’ve been put in positions of exploitation

And be very publicly abused.

But so many people I meet,

In real life or virtually,

Walk around with their eyes closed

To the terror that besets this world.

So, let me open your eyes a little,

That you might see what is all around.

I promise you won’t like it, not one bit,

But this isn’t meant to sooth your soul.

This is your reality check,

The one you should have passed long ago.

It’s the slap in the face you’ve quietly ignored

Because it wasn’t troubling you at all.

I’m here to make it trouble you,

I’m here to make you see,

If you don’t open your eyes today

You’ll trip on your privilege in the coming days.

When someone opens up to you,

Open your ears and open your heart,

Because it took more courage than you know

For them to break down that wall.

If they tell you about the injustice

They see and feel on a daily basis

Don’t wave away their anguish

Because you’ve never felt the same.

If they tell you about the hills

They have to climb just to reach the start

Don’t look down at the dirt on their hands

Because you got an extra head start.

And when they tell you that you’re privileged

Don’t deny what you should already know.

Listen to the words they say,

And feel it in your soul.

Because I am just as privileged

By the colour of my skin.

I walk through this world less troubled

Than if I was black or brown, you know.

And even though I’ve known trouble,

I told you at the start,

It is amounts to nothing

When compared to indigenous folk.

My ancestors were never ripped

From a mother’s loving arms,

To be abused and mistreated

By those who were supposed to care.

My forebears were never murdered

Simply for wearing the wrong colour skin

As if it’s something they had a choice in

Or could change if they wanted it enough.

My family is full of immigrants

Who chose to resettle half a world away

And weren’t a part of those policies

Which we still see the legacy of today,

But that doesn’t mean I’m immune

From the privilege it provides,

The opportunities it opens

Or the hills I don’t have to climb.

So, when you’re standing on your mountain

Looking out at the world,

Be aware of what’s before you

And try to change the colour of your eyes.

Do you see yourself represented?

Truth be told, you probably do.

So, who’s representing the others

If all you see is you?

If you’re watching the news tonight

And don’t see a person of colour

Imagine what that feels like

To an Asian or Indigenous child.

And when you’re listening to the radio,

Tell me what the message is you hear.

Is it one of acceptance and equality

Or is it deaf to all by bigotry?

This issue is not just black and white,

Nor brown, nor yellow, nor red.

It is a rainbow of the best of us

Rising above the pretty squabbles.

Do not be afraid of lifting your fellow man up,

Don’t anger at someone helping that lady now.

Their equality is not oppressing you

Nor taking away from your hard work.

If you’ve ever been pulled up by security

When travelling by plane or by boat

And felt that it was an inconvenience

But not been afraid for your life,

That is your privilege speaking

Hear it loud and clear;

Be aware that the person next in line

Might not experience it the same way as you.

If you’ve ever bee knocked back from the pub

When you were too drunk to walk a straight line

But the person before you was almost sober

And was refuse entry just the same,

That is the everyday discrimination

With which people of colour must deal

Each day of their lives without fail

Because they are seen a something less than you.

“What can I do”, you may ask of me.

Well, the answer is beautifully plain.

Open your eyes when you’re walking

And see how the world turns around.

When you see injustice, step up –

Be the person who gives a damn.

Don’t be petty or jealous or spiteful

When they achieve instead of you.

And I know I’ve said this before,

But listen when others speak,

Don’t just hear the words they say

And turn the other cheek.

Be insulted on their behalf,

Be angry and be frustrated.

And though this is their war to win,

Be a soldier at their rear.

We can live our lives in ignorance

But that changes nothing for anyone.

When your blinkers have been taken off,

Your blindfolds finally removed,

Keep your eyes open while walking

And let people of colour run.