Poetic reflection

'What does poetry mean to you?'

Poetry means many different things for me. I use it to release stress, to immerse myself in the world around me, to have a good laugh, to research...but most importantly, poetry is a form of self expression for me. There are not many other art forms you can use to express so much of yourself on such a small canvas. whether its your phone, a piece of torn paper, the back of your hand, it's so accessible and so easy to create. Poetry is like a language in and of itself, and I am grateful I have learned and created my own flow.

'What is a favourite Australian poet or poem of yours'.

My favourite Australian poet will have to be Omar Sakar, his poetry is so powerful and fresh. I love the way he expresses himself and the way he uses the intersections of his identities to speak to such a wide variety of people. I also loved his new novel (Son of Sin), it definitely reads like a long and giant poem. I also love the incorporation of religion and culture in his pieces, its something that is also important to my own identity.