Governor Brisbane: 1824: Outside the Frame: Colonial Oxymoron

…Bloodshed may be stopped by
…use of Arms against the natives
…in order to restore tranquillity.

…After the Silence the Echo

…After the silence there’s an echo.
…An echo is a sound bouncing back through time

…repeating

…an echo is a sound that curves around to
…re-sound again…
…………………and again…
……………………………..and again…

…An echo is the sound of the past
…as it screams

…………..down

…………………through

………………………time
……………………through the barrel of a gun

 

 

…at the end of a knife
…………………………from the thud of a stirrup iron.

…An echo is resounding.

………………Silence is not peace.

…The echo comes back 

…………………………to break the silence…
…again…

……………and again…

…………………………and again…

…now…

……………as then…

…………………………as now…

………………………………………As always.

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Jeanine Leane is a Wiradjuri writer, poet, author and critic who lives and works on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri peoples of the East Kulin Nation. Her poetry, prose and critique have been published widely in literary journals such as Sydney Review of Books, Overland, Westerly and the Australian Book Review.

P76 issue 9: Poetries of place/ displacement/ diaspora/ odyssey: On-line Edition. Table of Contents

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