here's a couple of poems inspired by camp sovereignty which existed in Melbourne Kings Domain from the 12th March 2006- 11th May 2006. Over the duration of the camp some 20 000 people visited, offering moral support, clothing, food, blankets, and their hearts and minds to show that places can exist outside of the capitalist/monetary sytem in which we live. The top poem is mine. The bottom two poems are written by a friend of mine. The article, in the post below, was written by me and published on www.undergrowth.org.au.
WHY CAMP SOVEREIGNTY?
Because it's about bloody time
Because there's some voices that need to be heard
Because it feels good to cry
Because this is the chance
Because it beats watching Neighbours
Because it's like nothing you'll ever imagine
Because there's a spirit burning
Because it's a chance for your imagination to roam free
Because there's a mystery there that'll never be solved
Because it's time to listen to that beating heart
Because the shadows will protect you
Because it's time to fuck the gubbament
Because your not blind
Because it's now
Because it's nothing you'll ever read about
Because it's cultural not political
Because a thousand photos will never do it justice
Because sometime you need to be broken
Because confusion is needed in this world
Because guilt is not always a bad thing
Because poverty is not offensive
Because it's abjection that makes life interesting
Because it's fun
Because you're giving someone a job
Because it's feels good to be wanted
Because...
HOW COULD YOU by sparx
How could you forgive us if you could not forgive yourself?
Perhaps you loved that fire as we love to breathe or
Perhaps it was a love the spirit not the flesh could understand.
I heard you saying "Keep your mind on that fire."
To see that fire go out,
That is the worst of all.
Therefore most we keep you warm and fed all through the cold nights
And the days as well, so you can burn that old fire on that hill
Open to wind and rain?
I knew, or I thought I knew, that was right.
"You can smoke some of these."
"I brought this for you, you can eat this."
How could you forgive us when you still punish yourself?
How could we expect from you gratitude and reconciliation
When you must burn that fire
To see that fire go out,
That is the worst of all.
How could you forgive that when I cannot?
It is beyond my knowing.
Are we spirits to live like that fire, open to wind and rain?
Many times we saw you struggle
Are you God to forgive and reconcile when it was you not us
Whose pain washed down that hill
Who felt all your birds leave you without a word
When it was you not us who tended that fire, who saw that fire put out
"Stop," you say, "stop gubba, you mustn't. It was all I had."
UNTITLED (or more precisely I've forgotten the title now)again by sparx
The fire is out
You won't breathe that smoke again
Stand on that road and look up at that park
The fire is out
You won't hear that voice again
The land will rewrite itself
Nevermind you won't lose that voice
You won't lose that fire
Sometimes you'll be walking in the noisy city
You'll hear it humming quietly again
You'll be walking home on a warm night
And that smoke will creep into your
Old lungs again
WHY CAMP SOVEREIGNTY?
Because it's about bloody time
Because there's some voices that need to be heard
Because it feels good to cry
Because this is the chance
Because it beats watching Neighbours
Because it's like nothing you'll ever imagine
Because there's a spirit burning
Because it's a chance for your imagination to roam free
Because there's a mystery there that'll never be solved
Because it's time to listen to that beating heart
Because the shadows will protect you
Because it's time to fuck the gubbament
Because your not blind
Because it's now
Because it's nothing you'll ever read about
Because it's cultural not political
Because a thousand photos will never do it justice
Because sometime you need to be broken
Because confusion is needed in this world
Because guilt is not always a bad thing
Because poverty is not offensive
Because it's abjection that makes life interesting
Because it's fun
Because you're giving someone a job
Because it's feels good to be wanted
Because...
HOW COULD YOU by sparx
How could you forgive us if you could not forgive yourself?
Perhaps you loved that fire as we love to breathe or
Perhaps it was a love the spirit not the flesh could understand.
I heard you saying "Keep your mind on that fire."
To see that fire go out,
That is the worst of all.
Therefore most we keep you warm and fed all through the cold nights
And the days as well, so you can burn that old fire on that hill
Open to wind and rain?
I knew, or I thought I knew, that was right.
"You can smoke some of these."
"I brought this for you, you can eat this."
How could you forgive us when you still punish yourself?
How could we expect from you gratitude and reconciliation
When you must burn that fire
To see that fire go out,
That is the worst of all.
How could you forgive that when I cannot?
It is beyond my knowing.
Are we spirits to live like that fire, open to wind and rain?
Many times we saw you struggle
Are you God to forgive and reconcile when it was you not us
Whose pain washed down that hill
Who felt all your birds leave you without a word
When it was you not us who tended that fire, who saw that fire put out
"Stop," you say, "stop gubba, you mustn't. It was all I had."
UNTITLED (or more precisely I've forgotten the title now)again by sparx
The fire is out
You won't breathe that smoke again
Stand on that road and look up at that park
The fire is out
You won't hear that voice again
The land will rewrite itself
Nevermind you won't lose that voice
You won't lose that fire
Sometimes you'll be walking in the noisy city
You'll hear it humming quietly again
You'll be walking home on a warm night
And that smoke will creep into your
Old lungs again
posted by paradigm at 6:43 PM
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