On my desk this morning* sits “Collected Australian Verse”, “Banjo Paterson’s People” and “Joe Wilson’s Mates” by Henry Lawson. Underneath those, loved but not revered, are “The Plays and Poems of Oscar Wilde” and “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare”. I had to put Ginsberg in the cupboard. Larkin’s on my bedside table and the bookshelves are full. I don’t remember the first poem I read, or even the first poem I wrote. I remember being five or six and reciting Banj

Topic 23: Write a poem inspired by something terrible happening Form : any Line requirements: 8 lines or more Get involved for free at www.pigpenpoetry.com Saturday's Soldiers Raiders, invaders, you ran your sheep and cattle across our sacred land, built sheds upon our bora grounds and kept us from our past. Wiradjuri we, born free to die as you please. You spread your disease, you rape and you maim, you plunder and poison and pass us the blame. Windradyne r