aboriginal art, mirii art

Separation from Soil

Artist Credit: Mirii Art { @caitlin.mirii.art} Word Credit: Abundance of Lovely {@abundanceoflovely}
Artist Credit: Mirii Art { @caitlin.mirii.art} Word Credit: Abundance of Lovely {@abundanceoflovely}

it is fitting to be on the sea,
on a day that reveals the
distortion of national history.
the assumption that:
entry is ownership,
belonging is possession,
power is subjection,
violence is obedience. 

it is fitting to be on the sea,
the waves declaring 
separation from soil.
it is fitting to remember
the first fleet;
to confess wrongdoing.
it is fitting to find ourselves,
not on fleet or feet,
but on our knees,
s u r r e n d e r i n g
this story, this history
and offering an apology. 

it is fitting to be on the sea,
and to see the land
for what it truly is;
not terra nullius, a wasteland,
but treasure, a promised land.
where red dirt
whispers reconciliation,
and gum trees
sing of true beginnings. 

it is fitting to be on the sea,
and to approach:
this land, this life
as a sojourner.
not to partake
in works of darkness;
not to steal, kill or destroy.
not to partake
in the division and omission
of national history.
but to take
colonisation and polarisation
out of our vocabulary,
and instead
to let our eyes, our ears
our hearts, our minds
have their own vocabulary;
to listen longer
to linger in stolen silence
until the unspoken speaks. 

it is fitting to be on the sea,
and to follow the model
set by a god-man
who walked on sea
knowing the land was far
but terror was near
{ matthew 14:22-33 }
who calls us to walk
in the same way he walked
stepping out of the boat
stepping out of ourselves
our story, our history
to walk in the mystery
of a message, not massacre
of good news, not bad news
stepping out of ourselves
to make a way for stepping down
from national superiority
to the washing of feet
and humbling of heart
to serve, not settle
to protest in prayer

it is fitting to find ourselves,
not on fleet or feet,
but on our knees,
s u r r e n d e r i n g
to the god-man
who calms stormy seas 


aboriginal art, mirii art
Artist Credit: Mirii Art { @caitlin.mirii.art}

i acknowledge
the traditional owners
of the countries and lands and sea
on which australia day/invasion day activities take place
particularly the gadigal
who are the traditional owners
of the lands around sydney harbour
🖤

about the artist: Mirii Art
contemporary artwork sharing Aboriginal culture, stories and traditions. 
cll art created by Gomeroi artist Caitlin Trindall
connect on insta here, or shop online here

Respond from the Heart