Published in Overland Issue 247 Winter 2022 · Poetry Poetry | Column irrelevant Yeena Kirkbright Words collected from ‘It’s so hip to be black’ by Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun, 15 April 2009. Meet now Wiradjuri Country. Auburn and charmingly freckled Country. Fair open air and Swallow Country. Take-me-as-I-am naked Country. Law Country. Creator sprit Country. Chosen Country. Colour awakening fullblood Country. Hailed and harping proud to be Country. Heartfelt firebrand beyond black and white Country. Ancestors deepest old Country. Mother Father Great-Grandfather Country. Australia. Yeena Kirkbright Yeena Kirkbright is a Wiradjuri poet from Central West New South Wales. She has been a participant in Sweatshop’s All About Women of Colour emerging writers mentorship program, a runner-up in the Kuracca Prize for Australian Literature and the Judith Wright Poetry Prize. Her work has appeared in several literary journals. More by Yeena Kirkbright › Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. Related articles & Essays 5 November 2025 · Poetry Force posture agreement Miroslav Sandev The men of Darwin have all taken their rottweilers / out for a walk at the same time. / For our protection. Like Pine Gap: / all those big white eyes that scan / the darkening horizon. / The eyes stay woke, so that we may sleep. / Or so they say. 1 22 August 202522 August 2025 · Poetry starmight K.A Ren Wyld Ending genocide and apartheid is the story. Palestinian liberation is the story. / Aboriginal rights is the story. Truth, justice, treaties and land back is the story. / Global Indigenous peoples’ solidarity and joy is the story. Kinship is the story.
