Jake Lynch performs poetry from his new book, Pommy Granita: progressive comic verse for Boundless Plains and Old Sod. All author proceeds on the night to be donated to Sydney anti-AUKUS coalition. Free bar.
poetry
Jim McIlroy attended the launch of Sydney academic and writer Jake Lynch's new poetry collection, Pommy Granita.
Graham Matthews reviews Dancing with Empty Prams, the second book published by Tasmanian-based poet and ecosocialist Susan Austin.
This poetry and prose anthology book was conceived in the wake of New Mexico's worst natural disaster in written history, writes Bill Nevins.
Bill Nevins interviews Paul Tran, author of the acclaimed poetry collection All the Flowers Kneeling.
A poem for the times by John Monfries - with apologies to Dorothea Mackellar.
The AFP raids have inspired this poem by John Monfries.
High Hopes
Bruce Springsteen
Columbia
Released January 17, 2014
www.brucespringsteen.net
A recent documentary on veteran US rocker Bruce Springsteen asked fans to describe their hero in three words.
The responses, compiled in the film Springsteen & I, were fairly predictable: "Badass, sensitive, perfect"; "Hope, energy, power”; “Earnest, inspiring, intense” and so on.
The non-Springsteen fans reading this could probably think of a few far less kind words. But if I were to choose three, they would be: "Open to interpretation."
We come from the land that gives us life.
We remember the time when the virgin earth brought forth
fruits in great abundance — a natural paradise — before greed
ripped our land and lives apart
Now mining scars the face of the planet,
leaves deep craters where once wild rivers ran
Our freedom curtailed, many search for paradise lost,
chasing butterflies of illusion in a cloud of confusion.
Heed the warning of our cousins the Cree:
Only when the last tree has died,
the last river poisoned and the last fish been caught,
will you realise that you cannot eat money
I want to sow seeds in the fertile minds of the young,
and see wisdom grow.
To plant flowers in parched desert hearts
and watch love grow anew.
Drench the fires of hatred and intolerance
in a downpour so huge, not a spark remains.
Feed the hungry and starve injustice.
I want to heal the wounds of life’s thousand painful cuts.
Make only weapons that kill pain and suffering.
Declare war on war.
Throttle patriotic lies and romantic war.
Freeze greed and warm the poor.
Free minds imprisoned by conditioning and fear.
Plant real smart bombs in minds and
watch them sprout.
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