Aboriginal poems
Contemporary Aboriginal poetry is an important part of Aboriginal art. Many poems express how Aboriginal people feel today and their poems are about the challenges that they share with non-Indigenous people but also about Indigenous-specific problems.
The Aboriginal-owned Koori Mail newspaper regularly publishes poems written by Aboriginal people.
Aboriginal poems
These are all poems by Aboriginal writers. I've added links to articles about the topics their poems refer to.
- A Song of Hope, Oodgeroo (Kath Walker)
- All Walks Of Life, Sharon Roebourne, WA
- An Elder's Passing, Jonathan Hill, NSW
- Burning Tree, Samuel Mclean
- Calling Me Home, Lyndon Lane, NSW
- Dark Secrets, Jeanine Leane, NSW
- Destiny, Richard G Kennedy, VIC
- Doing Time, Travis Eulo, NSW
- I Got 'Lations', John M Wenitong, QLD
- Indigenous All Stars, Zelda Quakawoot, QLD
- Just Another Drunk Black?, Colleen Kitchener, NSW
- Kinchela (The Stolen Kids), Paul Buttigieg
- Life of Sharon Roebourne, Sharon Roebourne, WA
- Mookari, Dan Davis, Central QLD - With audio
- Moonthanguddi, Dan Davis, Central QLD - With audio
- My Mother The Land, Phill Moncrieff, WA
- My Sitting Down Place, Gail Kay, QLD
- My Want Then and Today, B Robertson, NSW
- NAIDOC Assembly, Jonathan Hill, NSW
- No Disgrace, Coralie Cassady, QLD
- Proud Murri, Daniel Davis, QLD
- Self Education Political Conscience, Justin Walker, ACT
- Shared Sunset, Jonathan Hill, NSW
- Society, Dan Davis, Central QLD
- Spirit and Belief, Bradley Flanders, NSW
- The Elder, Patsy Jackson, QLD
- The First Australians, Troy Hopkins, QLD
- The Heart Of Auss, John M Wenitong, QLD
- The listed servitude of roots, Curly, QLD
- Too Much Luuving, Zone Moore, NSW
- Tribal Birth, Margaret Armstrong, QLD
- Tribal Land, Dale Backo
- Tribal Lines, Daniel Davis, QLD
- Untitled poem, Sharon Livermore, NSW
- What Becomes Of Us Now, Dan Davis, Central QLD
- Who Are We?, Richard G Kennedy, VIC
- Wisdom, J E Doyle
- You Still Wonder, John M Wenitong, QLD
Congratulations, Dan!
The UK-based Commonwealth Education Trust (CET) chose Dan Davis' poem Mookari to represent Australia in its planned 125th anniversary anthology. One poem or story is chosen from each country of the Commonwealth.
The CET found his poem after it was published here on this website.
Congratulations, Dan!
I have received a poem by a non-Aboriginal writer in response to some of the poems published here. Read A Response To Dan And Others by Sebie Brooks.
Aboriginal poetry resources
Aboriginal poetry: Smoke Encrypted Whispers by award-winning poet Samuel Wagan Watson, are poems which 'pulse with the language and images of a mangrove-lined river city' and 'restless ancestors'.
More Indigenous poetry: Indigenous Etchings brings you a contemporary snapshot of the Aboriginal scene: Poems, short stories, interviews and photos. Save 20% now! Special offer
Poems for children: Anna The Goanna written by Jill McDougall not only covers the fun parts of Aboriginal life (such as camping and playing footy) but also more serious issues like petrol sniffing.
Special offer: 20% off!
'Indigenous Etchings' is a collection of Aboriginal poems, short stories, interviews and photos.
Save 20% on your copy!
100% Aboriginal content, produced by Aboriginal people.