The rocks remain: Blak poetry and story by Karen Wyld and Dominic Guerrera eds

The rocks are Country, and people, who stand strong. ‘They remain – unmoved. Always have, and always will.’ ‘Rocks hold thoughts, emotions, and story’.

This powerful collection of poems and story collects voices of Blak writers connected to South Australia, with some new or emerging voices, and some already established. They all have something to share, about caring for the environment, caring for native animals, caring for language, caring for people.

Some poems voice protest – ‘Black lives matter’ (Sonya Rankine), ‘Blak Nation’ (Noah Amundson), ‘You say Aborigine, I say Blak’ (Dylan ‘Muldari Ko:rni’ Peisley), ‘unwelcome to country’ (Dominic Guerrera). Some are joyful, sharing happy memories. I particularly enjoyed reading ‘The macadamia tree’ by Alexis West, of children playing in the jungle backyard, collecting Malteser-like macadamia nuts from the Bopple tree.

‘Vermin-proof fence’ by Rick Slager is a fierce account of battling a bush-fire, the volunteer Luke exhorted to save the vermin-proof fence, a conflict with his innate duty to Country and obligation to protect the native animals bolting against the fence, trying to escape the flames.

Nancy Bates’ ‘Ruby’ is a lovely tribute to musician and singer, Ruby Hunter: ‘When a woman sings her song, tells her story / It makes every woman strong’.

There are many more, all within one slim volume: they all offer a special opportunity for people to listen, to understand and to care. The last pages include a little bit of information about each contributor, names you are sure to encounter again. This collection of their work published by Wakefield Press, provides an excellent introduction to a talented group of writers.

Themes: Poems, Blak writers, Aboriginal culture, Caring for Country, Protest.

Helen Eddy