Welcome to Red Room Poetry
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20+ Years
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90+ Major projects
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1,416+ Poets commissioned
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43,224+ Poems created
Read the latest news from Red Room Poetry

Poem Forest 2025: Understory
Unveiling the Understory
Step into the 2025 Poem Forest and explore this year’s theme: Understory — an invitation to uncover the rich, hidden layers of the natural world and ourselves. We’re calling on students and teachers to slow down, listen deeply, and give voice to the vibrant life beneath the forest canopy — from fungi and insects to roots, memory, and quiet growth. Whether you're writing from the spinifex plains or the depths of a classroom, we invite you to notice what often goes unseen and celebrate the stories that thrive in shadow. Join us in nurturing both creativity and Country — for every poem submitted, a tree will be planted, helping to grow a future where every voice matters.
Workshops now open for registration
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International Day for Biological Diversity (Primary)
Thursday 22nd May 2025 -
International Day for Biological Diversity (Secondary)
Thursday 22nd May 2025
Until Thursday 22nd May 2025 -
Baraya Barray ~ Whale Song and the Understory (Primary)
Wednesday 11th June 2025
Until Wednesday 11th June 2025
Featured Theme
Waterways
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a water suite
By Evelyn Araluen, Anahera Gildeaocean/saltwater/waitī/mulli tahnee
where i’m from the sand is cold at night, the shells empty, grey
cloud scudding like -
Nyarlu Malga (Strong Woman)
By Charmaine Papertalk GreenABA a women’s daily dance for good BARNDIMANMANHA
JUGARNU Spirits move within the memory ground NHANGANHA
JURDU Country bush broom stirs dust and land WINDI-WINDIN
NYARLU Universe sweeping with grandmothers hand JUNDANMANHA -
How Water Works
By Tony Birchcup a hand
skin and bone
this water well
a beating heart
Featured Projects
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Baraya Barray - Whale Song
Baraya Barray is a cultural immersion experience for young First Nations people, celebrating First Languages through the creation of poetry, song and dance. -
Poem Forest
Poem Forest is a free nature writing prize that breathes life back into the natural world that sustains us. Entries now open! -
Phone-a-Poem
Pick up the landline handset and dial a number to hear a poem.
Featured Theme
Find your new favourite poem
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This difference exists
By Candy Royalle1.
all that makes us
sink beneath the
weight of simply -
The language of hope
By Hodan Yasin, Saba Vasefitranslated by Saba Vasefi
I close my eyes,
Releasing countless butterflies— -
Poem For a Stranger in a Time of War
By Tishani Doshi, Vacant Dragon à la Subverted LipsWe left the city and found at the gates
a prescription with your name on it.
We took the metro to the beach
and on the shore, we saw