In hard times, it is good to look at different ways to express ourselves, our thoughts and our feelings.This always makes me think of poetry. When things are hard to say, it sometimes helps to find someone else who can say it for you.
This is exactly what happened recently during the peak of the fire crisis in Australia.
Poet Ali Whitelock found a way to express her own jumbled thoughts and feelings about that crisis through an extraordinary found poem. That poem went viral, as it exactly reflected the jumbled thoughts and feelings of many confused, frightened and angry people across this country (and the world).
In this blog post, I want to highlight Ali Whitelock for her beautiful and powerful poetry. Particularly because as a new crises hits Australia, we are seeing how the COVID-19 virus impacts the arts and our artists. Their livelihood. Their book launches. Bookshop sales. Publisher sales. It is a difficult time to be in the creative industry.
This week was meant to be a celebration of Ali Whitelock and her poetry, at a special book launch event of her latest poetry collection the lactic acid in the calves of your despair.
Like everything else, this event has been cancelled.
Which is why Wakefield Press wants to shine a spotlight on Ali and her powerful words. We want to remind everyone to stick together as a community and support our artists, our booksellers and our publishers.
Introducing ALI WHITELOCK
Today, our spotlight is on defiant poet Ali Whitelock and her visceral and topical poem ‘this is coal don’t be afraid’, which appears within her latest collection of poems published by Wakefield Press called the lactic acid in the calves of your despair.
Particularly topical in the aftermath of the 2019/2020 destructive Australia-wide fires, the powerful ‘this is coal don’t be afraid’ is a found poem made up of statements by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the Rural Fire Service, as well as relevant tweets and quotes, collated to create an extraordinary piece to make us shiver.
‘Poetry has been defined as “that which cannot be translated.” This poem cries out to be translated – into action. Powerful, moving, urgent.’– Malcolm Turnbull, Former Prime Minister, Australia
this is coal don’t be afraid.
if you are in or close to the bush leave now. if you choose to stay we may not be able to save you. save any woollen blankets you may have wrap yourself in them when the fire comes there is no better place to raise kids. if you are trapped in your car face towards the oncoming fire tightly close windows and doors get down below window level this is your highest priority. the prime minister regrets any offence caused to anyone for him being away at this time of crisis. for those of you in fire affected [insert town name here], it is now too late to leave. the girls and jen will stay on and stay out the rest of the time we had booked here we will not be changing our climate policy settings. but i’m comforted by the fact that australians would like me to be here, just simply so i can be here, alongside them as they’re going through this terrible time how good is hawaii? if you don’t have a Bush Fire Smoke Respirator P2 Aura Flat Fold mask including valve 9322A+ (max 2 packets per customer, was $94.95 now $77.45), stay indoors. i don’t hold a hose mate but i understand people are angry people are hurting. this is coal don’t be scared don’t be afraid seek shelter from the heat of the fire. but look, the girls and jen, they love holidaying in hawaii and so we’ve had a few nice days here. drink water to prevent dehydration evacuate your horse to the beach have your children row for their lives. australians will be inspired by the great feats of our cricketers this is not about climate change we are meeting and beating our paris agreement targets how good’s australia? to the five hundred million species we burned how good’s the cricket? you won’t be getting any votes down here buddy you’re an idiot leave the pregnant woman’s hand alone. the sky will turn black turn your headlights on. you’re out son. do you have a bush fire survival plan? activate it.
By Ali Whitelock.
Watch Ali’s video reading of this extraordinary piece.
Watch the video embedded below or follow this link.
Discover more of Ali Whitelock’s visceral and defiant poems within her latest collection the lactic acid in the calves of your despair.
Visit our website or contact us on 08 8352 4455 for more information, or to purchase this book.