Lionel Fogarty

Lionel Fogarty is from the South Burnett region of southern Queensland. His first collection of poetry, Kargun, was published in 1980, and he has published eight further collections, as well as a children's book, Booyooburra, a traditional Wakka Wakka story.

'Koala Trees Turn Her Borobi' by Lionel Fogarty | States of Poetry Queensland - Series One

States of Poetry Queensland - Series One • 22 February 2016

She was pretty young Borobi being put in the tree by her human father for four hours. As he walk back to the other Jarjum, they ask where Borobi was. He say, Oh she jump into a tree wanting to eat leaves and looked like happy, so I let her be what she wanted to be, a Borobi. Many Bilin Bilin flirted around flying high and low seems like listen to old Kargaru sing a song for a birth. While on th ... (read more)

'Jealousy of the Undertow/Tombstone' by Lionel Fogarty | States of Poetry Queensland - Series One

States of Poetry Queensland - Series One • 22 February 2016

The need to recall the journeyIs her gift to her children? They are the perfect journalistsTo inscribe her tombstone Outside my bedroom windowI see them walking the path to my door Who understands the logic?That they look so much like me Meanwhile what a lousy dealThey will also in heart my life This heat reminds me of a certain freedomIs hell the detour to heaven? Until our bones prevent us ... (read more)

'He Had a Dream of Times' by Lionel Fogarty | States of Poetry Queensland - Series One

States of Poetry Queensland - Series One • 22 February 2016

They swing on real dreams of freedom.Peace is like things of the past.Justice is like ice on the lands never seen.The dream he had was his own.For he got pay for his speech.People now can't dream in positive.For money to dream became working to scream.Years went by things same lay at the beds and rooms.Pain anger injustices seem to be their lifelong dreams.Love was politic in houses called freedom ... (read more)

'Between Places' by Lionel Fogarty | States of Poetry Queensland - Series One

States of Poetry Queensland - Series One • 22 February 2016

Beyond a man's face stands a skilful Command of changesBeyond a woman's face stands a weep Over the sweet peace beautyBorrowed emerging naked rage Made these times emptinessBeing at the advancing haunts came The hunter's stamping leapsI sat down around a necessity of foodHave pai ... (read more)

'Ambition Man' by Lionel Fogarty | States of Poetry Queensland - Series One

States of Poetry Queensland - Series One • 22 February 2016

The things us Murri blackfellas have to go over in life'sFutures is hard.Love's gone bad and less money and work.This easy going one got the flour tea sugar our mothers and fathers worked for.We were black men before the lot say, Ah ah, what's colour got to do with it?Well the light comes from the dark.May our babies never forget the black men who washed clean and were kind on the began.The things ... (read more)