She speaks through the landscape
not caring for clutter,
undaunted by quarries, roads and mines,
below black bitumen she breathes.
While high rise homes obliterate wild coasts,
and rampant weeds choke her waterways,
mountains and rocky outcrops reach upwards,
tides flow, waves wash over sand,
trees send roots downwards.
Earth’s resilience pushes forwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She speaks, she offers her divine wisdom,
she cannot be silenced,
she will remain
after the boiling, roiling, ravaging times
she will hold the stories and sing them to the sky.
Earth, the mammoth mother holds her loved ones close
whispering, advising, guiding and accepting,
man is deaf to her plea.
She will survive, but will we?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
She speaks through the landscapenot caring for clutter,undaunted by quarries, roads and mines,below black bitumen she breathes.While high rise homes obliterate wild coasts,and rampant weeds …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":3751,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[19],"tags":[434,435,433,224,21],"class_list":["post-3750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poetry","tag-country","tag-divine","tag-earth","tag-maggie-mclaren","tag-poetry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pff1uY-Yu","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2909,"url":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=2909","url_meta":{"origin":3750,"position":0},"title":"This Is Not Our Time","author":"Teresa Lawler","date":"November 12, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"I'd rather endureall of the sadnessthan remain Unknowing.Bring me back,hold me. Together in the spacesbetweenwisdom and light.Steer me away from grey waters,with depths unclear.Keep me in places. Wherehearts and landings aresoft, and feelings can breathe.I so wanted to run after you,but I didn't,I went home. If you love Teresa's poetry,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?cat=19"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ilia-bronskiy-DOKB297F4jA-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ilia-bronskiy-DOKB297F4jA-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ilia-bronskiy-DOKB297F4jA-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ilia-bronskiy-DOKB297F4jA-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":248,"url":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=248","url_meta":{"origin":3750,"position":1},"title":"both\/and","author":"Teresa Lawler","date":"November 6, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Leaves flickerTrees murmur gently to each otherLight breeze touching my skinTemperature a gentle nothingGreys and greens of the eucalyptDancing, swaying, pausingBefore cheering on the next windI cradle my tea cup. Soft smoothHot in my handsThe couch holds me with her faded cushionsAnd permanent indentsA sign of rest that sometimes happens.Longing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?cat=19"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neroli-wesley-LigZf_N4jKY-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neroli-wesley-LigZf_N4jKY-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neroli-wesley-LigZf_N4jKY-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neroli-wesley-LigZf_N4jKY-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neroli-wesley-LigZf_N4jKY-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5400,"url":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=5400","url_meta":{"origin":3750,"position":2},"title":"Memories of a Lantern Keeper","author":"Bethany Sinclair-Giardini","date":"July 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"I worked in colours no sun could hold,in blues that bruised the air,in golds that kept their heartbeatlong after candles guttered there. Montsalvat was just young then,all scaffolds, dust, and dream;yet something in its mortarknew more of me than seemed. I felt it first in the winter:a sunken tremor in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?cat=19"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_3042.jpeg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_3042.jpeg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_3042.jpeg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_3042.jpeg?fit=768%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1159,"url":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=1159","url_meta":{"origin":3750,"position":3},"title":"It’s the Cough","author":"Morte Oakley","date":"June 3, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"I sit and wheeze and sneezeThen the cough goes offMy head pounds gentlyLike the subtle tap of a pile driverOn the river\u2019s edgeBoom boom boomCoughBoom boom boomCoughBoom boom boom The vice holding my chestIn a lovers embraceTightens a littleThen I coughAnd my bladder demands to be emptiedI sneeze againThen run\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?cat=19"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/jaroslav-devia-xfYiIpHnvhs-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=958%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/jaroslav-devia-xfYiIpHnvhs-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=958%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/jaroslav-devia-xfYiIpHnvhs-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=958%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/jaroslav-devia-xfYiIpHnvhs-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=958%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3755,"url":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=3755","url_meta":{"origin":3750,"position":4},"title":"My Six Day Old Daughter at a Wedding","author":"Helen Jahn","date":"August 11, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"It isn\u2019t my weddingBut my heart is with anotherIt is not with me The bride had it, smiling, speaking with guestsbut she is now passing it to another It fills them both with awe and love and happiness Perturbed, my nervous eyes are on my heartDon\u2019t they know I need\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Memory Book"","block_context":{"text":"Memory Book","link":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?cat=120"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/adele-morris-X-IPlrQuKvA-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/adele-morris-X-IPlrQuKvA-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/adele-morris-X-IPlrQuKvA-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/adele-morris-X-IPlrQuKvA-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4257,"url":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?p=4257","url_meta":{"origin":3750,"position":5},"title":"This is Not a Poem","author":"Elissa McKay","date":"March 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThis is not poetry!\u201dmy son shoutsthe darkness of his eyesswimming in outrage Because I can\u2019t just arrangewords on the pageto make pretty shapesthe words have to mean somethingor rhyme (rhyme can stand infor meaning) poetry has tobe profound More meaningful thanthe long clean lines of armand leg, his straight nose,his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Memory Book"","block_context":{"text":"Memory Book","link":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/?cat=120"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rachael-crowe-jK8JZGgBtHM-unsplash.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rachael-crowe-jK8JZGgBtHM-unsplash.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rachael-crowe-jK8JZGgBtHM-unsplash.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rachael-crowe-jK8JZGgBtHM-unsplash.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/received_59855647782164221.jpeg?fit=1920%2C1024&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3750"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3752,"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3750\/revisions\/3752"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3751"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mountainashchapter.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}