Poems of Lyapirtneme from Arrernte Women in Central Australia
Women from throughout the arid dessert regions of Australia gathered in Alice Springs in February 2019 to attend a festival with the theme of Lyapirtneme, an Arrernte word meaning growing back, to talk ‘women’s business’, share company, food and participate in discussion, to take some time out from their busy life caring for their mob and create poetry.
Out of that came this powerful collection of simple words from the women, Arelherkenhe Angkentye Women’s Talk, from many whom had never placed words on paper to tell about their life, their struggles, healing, culture and the world around them. Many of the pieces were written on small pieces of paper, some round, some square, not large pieces of paper at all, just enough for a few words.
For many it took great courage to write how they felt but in the doing they have created a lasting memory, a gift of understanding of reaching out with words from ‘their country’, their culture and their life.
The work was never intended to form a book, but such was the flow of words, the rich telling of the poems that a crowd funding was done with the end result, Arelherkenhe Angkentye Women’s Talk, which begins with a beautiful piece from a mother to her son My Little Turtle.
Words Unsaid from Sylvia Purrurle Neale pays tribute to a grand old gum tree that offered shelter, comfort and shade but had reached the end of its time, leaving behind ‘a huge hole, a memory, a sadness that will never go’, which is poignant in its simplicity and also has so many layers to the grieving felt.
Inside knowledge comes to light in We Share, the many gifts the bush passionfruit has to offer, along with Witchetty in tribute to the delicacy of Witchetty grubs and honey ants. When we were kids captures the easy going nature of children out looking for a treat; bush tucker; little wild cherries, bush bananas and oranges, Yum.
Two Strong Blokes makes you chuckle, Two Old Men make you weep a little. Brothers makes you stop and ponder; such is the power of words.
Divided up to into sections, slowly browsing the pages is simply a journey into another world, a world of ancient people, of timeless rhythm, of fun, laughter, hard times, healing and the gift of giving.
Arelherkenhe Angkentye Women’s Talk reaches out, crosses barriers, and offers a priceless peep into a world little known and often misunderstood, through the eyes of women, who world-wide are always there to care, comfort and share the knowledge.
Truth talking, healing, sadness, life, vitality, and beauty are all encompassed in this anthology of poetry created by the Arrernte women of Central Australia.
Author Arrernte Women in Central Australia
Publisher Running Water Community Press
ISBN 978-0-6480629-5-0
Website https://www.newsouthbooks.com.au
Distributor New South Books
Released 2022 Second Edition
Review By Janet Mawdesley
