Cirrus@Austlit

'We acknowledge and pay our respect to all the Grandmothers, Mothers, Aunties, Sistas, and Sistergirls, Cuzzies and Tiddas gone before us, those lost too young, and those to come. We love you, your strength, knowledge, humility, grief and anger. Youse are all Most Deadly!

'Shout out to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers and editors who have worked with The Lifted Brow before this, and who held the door open for this edition.

'Running the editorial as a collective for this issue of The Lifted Brow was important for many reasons. Too often as Blakfellas we are expected to work as lone rangers in white corporations and institutions, as the keepers of all knowledge, the go to on every ‘Aboriginal issue’, and the incompetent to lay blame with when things don’t go well. It is expected that we are happy to fit into the individualistic mindset of western capitalism, because you want that job, right? To keep a roof over you and your family’s head, right? To be all white, white?' (Editorial introduction)

'This important anthology, curated by Gomeroi poet and academic Alison Whittaker, showcases Australia’s most-respected First Nations poets alongside some of the rising stars. Featured poets include Oodgeroo Noonuccal, Ruby Langford Ginibi, Ellen van Neerven, Tony Birch, Claire G. Coleman, Evelyn Araluen, Jack Davis, Kevin Gilbert, Lionel Fogarty, Sam Wagan Watson, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Archie Roach and Alexis Wright.

'Divided into five thematic sections, each one is introduced by an essay from a leading Aboriginal writer and thinker — Bruce Pascoe, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Chelsea Bond, Evelyn Araluen and Steven Oliver — who reflects on the power of First Nations poetry with their own original contribution. This incredible book is a testament to the renaissance of First Nations poetry happening in Australia right now.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.