Friday favourite

Friday favourites – January 26 (Invasion day)


It’s invasion day here in Australia (aka Australia Day). A date when we remember the establishment of the first British colony on mainland Australia (1788) and the beginning of the widespread displacement and destruction of the local residents, one of the oldest human cultures on earth. Even as recently as October last year, the majority of electors decided at a referendum not to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia’s constitution.

A few favourites from this week, starting with a bi-seasonal poem for all you winter readers by local poet Mark Tredinnick. Mark is a celebrated poet, essayist, and teacher. His most recent collection of poems (his fourth) is Walking Underwater (June 2021). His many other works of poetry and prose include A Gathered Distance, Almost Everything I Know, Egret in a Ploughed Field, Bluewren Cantos, Fire Diary, The Blue Plateau, and The Little Red Writing Book. I came across this lovely piece of his to share.


A big shout-out to Bangalore poet Rajani Radhakrishnan – who’s poetry podcast ‘Poetry and Stuff‘ features readings of poetry from Emily Dickinson, Jisei and a wonderful piece from recently deceased Palestinian poet and academic Refaat Alareer. Poetry and Stuff is up to ep. 13, so there’s riches for you to enjoy.


Finally, this poem, Elegy by US poet and teacher Daisy Fried made me smile, even though it’s an elegy and reminded me of getting my own ear lobe pierced (at a chemist). Lovely detail in the writing and great humour – even though it’s an elegy.

Image: A single male Hooded Merganser, at Summer Lake in Tigard Oregon, c/- Richard Griffin on Flickr

For music this morning: I’m in two minds about this one, so let me know what you think – here’s eclectic folk duo Woo with their 2014 album Into the Into the Heart of Love (Youtube) (maybe start with Make me Tea)

Bandcamp describes them as…”Oddly dubby, mesmeric, insular, playful, undefinable, instantly recognisable, warm, romantic, optimistic, ethereal, timeless, pop music for another universe, time-locked into the spirit of ’67, witty yet quintessentially British, futuristic elevator muzak.”

Friday favourites – It’s difficult (to hear what you’re writing)…

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Currently, I’m reading the new edition of Cordite. The theme for this edition is ‘difficult’ and it includes some provocative poetry along with artworks from Paola Balla and Hoda Afshar, translations into English of Brazilian and Romanian writers and an interview with Bangladeshi writer Kaiser Haq. There’s also six essays including a piece on poetry on the radio by Prithvi Varatharajan and an essay by Lynn Davison,  What the Repetitions of Poetry Might Help Us Remember about Home, Belonging and the Self  where she discusses how poetry can…

’embed us in place and community …and is maybe why we turn to it at heightened, frightened times in our lives. It orients us, it gives us context. And what we hear is not the remnants of a seemingly separate and distant oral tradition, but the called notes for our ways of knowing and being…

Among 50 new poems, my favourite so far – is Jini Maxwell’s bay city plaza

…and the dock sits, sunk like an old dog.
They say a good body is hard to find.

It’s seven now. I’ve had braver days.
Last night, the sea tantrumed herself flat
now the shore creeps out from under waves
as if cringing away from a smack;

Cordite is well worth a read (if you can get away from the construction noise: the crew with the hammers and saws starts early next door). And if not, try something noisy like Sons of Kemet live from the Vortex Club (big hair, big tuba)

Image: Postcard of old St Georges Shopping Centre, Preston Victoria, Tony Worral Photography, Flickr