A response to July exhibitions
The river, once in the liminal space of dawn now comes alive with the sounds of birds and flowing shadows.
Dappled light plays on the surface while water playfully sings.
Water-
It can
flow gently or it can crash.
Clear water at the bottom while muddy water floats at the top
Delve in. Dare to be immersed
in the ambiguity before it
becomes clear.
Yarra- Birrarung-
pluck gently at
my heartstrings to protect you,
to keep you alive as you have kept those creatures alive.
Your upright sticks like
standing guards ready to stop
those who trespass.
Thank you, Birrarung, for showing us who we are in your muddy reflection, Are you like us? We can only hope to be more like you, giving life, flowing while offering a still moment of peace, you seem to see the value in the small and the great expanse of your reaching arms.
We are alone with the moving water and the sound of the birds.
Does your H2O makeup connect you to the Sana, your neighbour in the community of Earth? Sana meaning to shine, to be simple, praise, straightforward, in Arabic. Our path is straightforward- protect the givers of life or cease.
In Latin, your name means healthy, sane or sound. The sound of you keeps me sane but yet you are not so healthy by our actions.
Please will the rivers conspire to touch the hearts of men, women, and the liminal in-between to say, humans, you are not protecting us, rather we are protecting you,
so get out of the way,
or fear a river’s wrath.
Perhaps you will call those at dawn, before they fully awaken and remember their selfish taking ways, or as the sun comes up remind those that already love you of the fierceness of their love. As a mother protecting a child, a child clinging to their mother. The race is on. We drink to your health as the countless species that depend on you.
Please, we ask you, you ask us, Let me
Survive.