From Ruby Moonlight to ma-li: A spotlight on award-winning First Nations poetry

Each year, State Library of Queensland celebrates the brilliance of First Nations writers through the black&write! Indigenous Writing & Editing Project and its coveted Fellowships. This competition has launched the careers of numerous talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors, including Claire G. Coleman, Alison Whittaker, Nardi Simpson, and Jared Thomas. Winners receive prize money but also invaluable editorial development with the black&write! team, leading to the publication of their manuscripts. These Fellowships offer a transformative journey, turning unpublished manuscripts into powerful, published works. 

For Poetry Month, we’re spotlighting the poets who have won, showcasing their unique voices and contributions to the Australian literary landscape and beyond.

2011 – Ruby Moonlight by Ali Cobby Eckermann (Magabala Books) 

Ruby Moonlight is a poignant verse novel set in mid-north South Australia around 1880, capturing the profound impact of colonisation. The story follows Ruby, a survivor of a massacre, who finds refuge in the woods and forms an unlikely friendship with an Irishman trapper.

The novel's poetic prose vividly conveys Ruby's journey as her initial fear of discovery gradually gives way to her need for human connection. This fragile peace is disrupted by the arrival of an Aboriginal lawman, introducing a tension that underscores the narrative. The richly observed natural world and the seasonal rhythms enhance Ruby's courtship, adding depth and beauty to the story. 

Eckermann's manuscript won the 2011 black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowship, then the 2012 Deadly Award for Outstanding Achievement in Literature, and both the 2013 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards Book of the Year and the Kenneth Slessor Poetry Prize. You can borrow Ruby Moonlight here.

2015 – Lemons in the Chicken Wire by Alison Whittaker (Magabala Books)  

A fresh and captivating voice in Indigenous literature, Lemons in the Chicken Wire is a debut poetry collection that’s as vivid as it is bold. Whittaker’s poems are filled with striking imagery and raw textures, offering a unique glimpse into rural identity through a diverse array of styles and forms. The collection is sensual and impactful, showcasing Whittaker’s lyrical prowess with a distinctive twist. This collection is a delightful blend of creativity and grit, pushing boundaries and inviting readers to explore the power of love beyond limitations.

Borrow Lemons in the Chicken Wire from State Library of Queensland. 

2021 – the body country by Susie Anderson (Hachette Australia)

the body country is a compelling poetry collection. Susie Anderson offers powerful and beautifully observed words that invites us to see the extraordinary in the everyday. the body country was shortlisted for both the 2024 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Prize for Poetry and the 2024 NSW Premier's Literary Awards UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing. 

In her poems, Anderson highlights moments we often overlook – the shape of a mouth saying goodbye, the colours of the sky during love, or the crunch of dry earth after drought. Her work encourages us to pause and truly notice the world around us, embracing the power of small, often overlooked details. Borrow the body country today.

Now to keep an eye out for 3 exciting upcoming black&write! Fellows! 

2023 – “Arsenic Flower” by Dakota Feirer (NSW) 

"Arsenic Flower" is a powerful poetry collection by Dakota Feirer, a Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr author, that weaves together history, colonialism, and trauma. Feirer offers a heartfelt tribute to people and Country, blending love poems, eulogies to landscapes, and letters of heartache to ancestors. Through his verses, he invites readers to reflect on their own complex histories and responsibilities.

Feirer hopes that readers will find a sense of hope and strength in his words, encouraging a deep connection to self, Country, and truth. His collection serves as a reminder of our shared journey and the power of embracing our past as we move forward.

2024 – “To Clear Your Throat of Fish” by Meleika Gesa-Fatafehi (Qld)  

Meleika Gesa-Fatafehi, also known as Vika Mana, is a proud sovereign storyteller from the Zagareb and Dauareb tribes of Mer Island in the Torres Strait, as well as Fahefa in Tonga. Their diverse heritage spans multiple continents and bloodlines, enriching their creative work. Through their writing, rap, and performances, they bring various worlds to life while offering exploration of their place and identity.

In "To Clear Your Throat of Fish" Meleika presents a captivating poetry collection that blends together their rich cultural background with powerful storytelling.

2024 – “ma-li” by Lulu Houdini (NSW)   

Lulu Houdini, a Gamilaroi poet and midwife, delves into themes of invisibility, memory, resistance, and liminality in her powerful work. Her poetry has graced the pages of esteemed publications such as Meanjin, Overland, Red Room Poetry, and Wakefield Press. Notably, her debut poetry collection was shortlisted for the 2023 David Unaipon Award.

In "ma-li" Houdini presents a profound poetry collection that reflects her unique perspective and experiences. Houdini’s work continues to offer insightful and evocative explorations of cultural and personal themes.

Come discover incredible First Nations poets – award-winning author Ellen van Neerven, Oodgeroo Noonuccal Prize-winning poet Cheryl Leavy, and 2024 black&write! Fellow Meleika Gesa-Fatafehi – at the Queensland Poetry Month showcase on Friday 16 August. Find more event details and book via State Library here. Or, on Saturday 10 August, come meet black&write! Junior Editor Georgia Anderson performing in the QPoetry! Salon at the Judith Wright Arts Centre.