Arelhekenke Angkentye: Women’s Talk

by Arrernte Women from Central Australia

Lyapirtneme is an Arrernte word that means growing back, returning. It’s like if a bushfire went through the land and all the trees burnt down, and the roots underground are still alive.

When the rain comes you see little shoots growing out the bottom of the tree, growing back again. Lyapirtneme.

Genres: Poetry

192 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely gorgeous, I loved how the poems led with an unmasked and earnest clarity

Some lines that stood out :

In my tummy now
(laughing by myself)

They were eating icy poles
It was early in the morning!

She has arms that reach out like wings

Oh this is wonderful

Taste it!
I feel good

And yam!

Because if you fart
The cave will close up

Listen!
It’s cracks my stomach too
Pierces the sky open

Sometimes I feel afraid
When the sun goes down

I woke up in the morning
To hear the birds singing

Sssssshooww

I can smell rain! Rain!

The glorious smell

It tickles the bottom of my feet makes me smile

Always was always will be

Lovely old bush perfume

He brings the rain

But the seed was dipped in sorrow

I miss you!
My best friend!

You have a beautiful smile

[Mentai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women's words and experiences from central Australia. It really feels like you've dropped in to the healing centre or other gathering place where these Arrernte women are waking up, dancing, mourning, singing, painting, healing, buying things, relating to friends and loved ones. Through these deceptively simple poems run the deep themes of land, animals, country and culture. Arrernte language is interspersed throughout many of the poems, which complexified the English.

[Robert Claireson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen respectfully to what
They Say
And go forward

- Sharon Ampetyane Alice

[Natasha (jouljet) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gorgeous collection of poems of Lyapirtneme from Arrernte Women in Central Australia. Lyapirtneme means "growing back" or "returning" in Arrernte.

As the Introduction explains, these poems were produced in a few workshops of women coming together with the NT Writers Centre. Some had written poetry before, some had never. Most are visual artists. All are women with incredibly rich stories to tell.

These stories pop from the words and pages. Some very simple, most with language. Many capture an experience, connection to land, every day moments, or deep cultural stories or lore.

So many poems here are ones to treasure.

[SJP]

“Inernte inernte
showing your colours
showing who you are
bright flowers show up on your branches
saying you are ready”
- Amelia Kngwarraye Turner

[Stuart Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most astonishing anthologies I've ever read, firstly for the way that it curates work with a shared context & purpose and therefore harnesses a powerful, collective resonance (as opposed to the endless stream of arbitrary & banal 'best ofs'), and, secondly, for how it recovers for me that deep, original notion of poetry as a collective event, or as something that can take place almost anywhere if the conditions are right (rather than only on the crisp white pages of hallowed Poets' books). To be sure, there are amazing individual poets here - eg. Amelia Kngwarraye Turner & Sharon Ampetyane Alice - but there is surprise in virtually every poem in the collection.

[Karleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Page 132 - Lyapirtneme by Theresa Penangke Alice

“… And the rain poured heavy but had that sweet smell of the lovely old bush perfume.”

That poem was beautiful.

[Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such beautiful poetry, mainly focusing on mothers and being a woman. I really loved seeing the poems written in the traditional language. It was a great collection and I would love to read more.

[Gandalf3000#$ · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many kind voices, n in my mums bed at home