Ali Eckermann
Ali Eckermann Poems
She gives him a cloud of parrots
He expects her to peel the carrots
She gives him a safari cruise
He expects her to hide the bruise
...
You call it 3 bedroom house
I call it big lotta trouble
You call it electricity
...
When john howard said
let’s have an intervention
the women shouted yes!
...
Sit down in the dirt and brush away the flies
Sit down in the dirt and avoid the many eyes
I never done no wrong to you, so why you look at me?
...
Mallets pound fence posts
in tune with the rifles
to mask massacre sites
Cattle will graze
...
(in memory of my friend)
hey kungka
you want husband yet?
the old man sings out
...
Urgent darkness hunts us south, while my stomach churns with childbirth
He waits.
...
‘See you’ I said to the children
as I memorised
their Anangu faces
filled with laughter
...
1.
I walk to the south I walk to the north
where are you my Warrior?
...
Interventionists are coming interventionists are coming
the cries echo through the dusty community
as the army arrive in their chariots.
...
high on compensation
they tell me right from wrong
say the old days are over
you gotta sign the paper
...
My friend was at the A & E, he wasn’t feeling good
I was at the barbecue, just like he said I should.
The phone call from the hospital shocks me with fear and fright –
‘You better come to ICU, he might not make it through the night.’
...
I'm sitting up the tree today
And I'm NOT getting down!
I don't feel safe at school no more
Just 'cos my skin is brown.
If I sit here overnight
Will I turn into a bird?
So I can fly away from here
And all the nasty words
'Cos it's no fun being different
Where do I fit in?
Some kids at school are nasty
And their words have such a sting.
You half caste dog, you coon, you boong,
You stinking bloody abo,
I don't know what these words mean -
I know they hurt me like an arrow.
I asked my teacher to explain
And she just slapped me hard
And then when it was lunchtime
I was pushed over in the yard.
So now I'm sitting up the tree
I'll hide from everyone.
I don't understand this place -
I'm only in Grade One.
...
old Mr Uluru
a proud man
the day the Rock
was handed back
sits waiting
old Mr Walkabout
a proud man
at the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the
hand back
sits waiting
in the Red Rock tavern
the old men sit
waiting
yous wanna beer
the barman yells
he comes over
whatcha waiting for
the old men stare out
over their Country
waiting
waiting
for recognition
as Traditional Owners
more than just
a few days
in their life time.
...
(in memory of my friend)
hey kungka
you want husband yet?
the old man sings out
from his bough shelter
boomerang factory
don't be silly Tarzan
she cat calls back as
she runs for the car
fearing his ability
hey kungka
you want wife?
the old man laughs as
she gives him the finger
might be me she wants
the old man sings
clapping boomerangs
in his bough shelter
...
Ali Eckermann Biography
Ali Cobby Eckermann is an up and coming poet, and lives in Koolunga, South Australia. She identifies with the Yankunytjatjara / Kokatha from the north west desert country of South Australia Ali was born in 1963 on Kaurna country, at Brighton in Adelaide, within the confines of the Cate Cox Baby Home. Through adoption she was raised on Ngadjeri country, with the Eckermann family, on a farm property at Hart. She was educated at Brinkworth Area School and Clare High School, in the mid north of South Australia. Growing up in an environment devoid of Aboriginal friendship and influence was difficult. My journey to search for truth began when I was 17 years old, when I ran away to the desert regions of central Australia. I worked as a cook, cleaner, camel catcher and 'check out chick' at Yuendumu before following more stable avenues of employment. In my mid thirties I found my birth mother Audrey, and four years later I found my only child Jonnie. The reunions with my Yankunytjatjara / Kokatha Aboriginal family were my happiest and best years; meeting my family saved my life. Today Ali continues to spend time with her traditional family in the southern central desert regions of SA and NT, to learn and to heal. She has also retained loving relationships with her adopted family, especially her adopted siblings and Mum Frieda. After nearly 30 years in the NT Ali’s journey returned her to Ngadjeri country, where she is restoring the 130 year old general store in Koolunga, to establish an Aboriginal Writers Retreat. This is my haven from the world, where I am provided the sanctuary and security to write and share my life with friends and family. Ali was a guest of Sydney Writers Festival 2010, and she has featured on Radio National's Poetica program. Her 27-poem monograph Little Bit Long Time was published in 2009 by the Australian Poetry Centre in their New Poets Series.)
The Best Poem Of Ali Eckermann
A Promise
She gives him a cloud of parrots
He expects her to peel the carrots
She gives him a safari cruise
He expects her to hide the bruise
She gives him a blue magic rabbit
He expects her to feed his habit.
He gives her a kicking horse
She expects his true remorse
He gives her a rotting plum
She expects a little freedom
He gives her his silver spoon
She expects she’ll kill him soon.
Ali Eckermann Comments
Congratulations Ali. Love your Poet's Page and your work. . A truly amazing journey so far. Good luck with the next venture.
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10/15/2024 5:28:24 PM # 1.0.0
Ali you sound strong in your deep search for self. Im sure the force is with you. blessings