Guwayu – For All Times | New Australian poetry, contemporary Australian writers & poetry education

'The Australian literary landscape needs this bold, brave intervention to wake it up from the 232-year slumber and the dream of the settler mythscape. Guwayu breaks the silence—feel the beauty—hear our words.'

~ Dr Jeanine Leane

"Within these pages you will read some of the best and most exciting artists writing in Australia today. Their offerings are provocative and generous, and we, the readers and listeners, are fortunate to be in their presence."

~ Tony Birch, award-winning author, activist, academic

And when you really listen
Is your listening deep?
~ Ellen van Neerven from 'Yugambeh and Proud'

A collection of First Nations poems commissioned by Red Room Poetry over the past 16 years.

The collection is edited by Wiradjuri poet, Dr Jeanine Leane, produced by Red Room Poetry and published by Magabala Books.

Launched in August 2020, Guwayu – For All Times features 63 poems from 36 First Nations poets in 12 First Nations languages, including works by Ali Cobby Eckermann, Bruce Pascoe, Lionel Fogarty, Ellen Van Neerven, Evelyn Araluen, Lorna Munro and many more.

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Friday 13 August 2021 | NiB Awards Presents Guwayu – For All Times. A Red Room Poetry partnership with Waverley City Council as part of Poetry Month, 2021.

Tuesday 28 July 2020 | Guwayu – For All Times was live-streamed launched by Jeanine Leane, Kirli Saunders, Anne-Marie Te Whiu and contributing poets from the collection performing their work. Co-presented with Melbourne Spoken Word.

"This collection extends the ancient and continuing cultural practice of weaving to words. In Guwayu, the page becomes the vessel – the crafted object that carries culture. The making and crafting of each vessel embeds the maker(s) into its final shape and form – its body. The poems in this collection are baskets and nets of the page. Together they are an exquisite vessel of twenty-first century, living Aboriginal culture."

~ Dr Jeanine Leane, Sydney Review of Books