Today I attended the monthly meeting of Geelong’s, Dome Poetry Group, our assignment was to present a ‘Monologue’ and I duly recited my poem “The Voice”. After some constructive discussion and a few helpful hints, this afternoon I have written a “Revised Version” of the poem. Special thanks to Guenter (Geelong Writers Pres) and my fellow “Dome Poets”. Please note, the original version is attached below
On Saturday, 14 October 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. I’ll be voting “Yes”



The Voice (a Monologue), Revised
Do not yet shut the doors
But give me leave to speak with you and yours
Do not yet turn away
The time I ask of you is brief for what I have to say
Join me in the shade of this countryβs trees
My ancient words are free
But why listen to a language you cannot see
In the past, you have not heard my pleas
And forever! I have been treated harshly
I am a dream-time spirit bird
Flying within your boundaries seems absurd
You! Have clipped my wings
And unashamedly ripped apart my kin
You! Desecrated my sacred ground
For the price of two axes and a Pound
Yes! Itβs time sit without descent
On the sand inside your tribal tent
The Voice (a Monologue), Original

Ivor Steven (c) Sept 2023

So sound, Ivor. I hope it would make a difference
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We will have to wait and seeβ¦ hopefully the βYesβ vote will prevail
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Good luck to your sound Yes Ivorπ₯°
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Thank you Arleneβ¦ hopefully things go the right way π€ππ
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thanks in advance for voting yes, it’s way overdue and I hope it passes. love your poetic words
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Thanks Beth and hopefully the βYesβ deservedly prevails
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I love your poem Ivor, and I hope the vote is favourable. π
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Thanks Sue β¦ I really hope so π€ππ
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Oh, Ivor, I hope the Yes’s are many and the vote goes the right way!
Keep us updated!
Your poem is so important and so needed! A great write, Ivor!
Mr. Rudd’s song/video is powerful and important, too! “Soldier on…Keep fighting…”
You two are a good duo! π
(((HUGS))) β€οΈπβ€οΈ
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Itβs an important day for Australia and our First Nation people β¦ hopefully common sense will prevail π€πππΆ
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I hope and pray this is true, too!
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I am hoping Carolynβ¦ for far too long our First Nationβs people have been treated unjustlyβ¦ π€πππ₯²
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PS…Oh! I meant to mention your lovely sweet photos! All good, but that last one says PEACE to me. And I love how you captured the birdie’s shadow. Beautiful! π
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Thanks Carolyn β¦ the photos were taken at the Box Office Cafe yesterday β¦ and at the time my poem wasnβt going well β¦ then the birds walked in and I took their photos and my words started to flow β¦ and my monologue/speech began β¦ βIβm speaking to you and yoursβ β¦ oh .. Frankie just sat there and quietly watched the birds
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YAY for inspiration from birds! π
Sir Frankie is always an encouraging presence and friend. π β€οΈπΆβ€οΈ
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Frankie is good doggie πΆ and birds often walk into the cafe and add to the rustic atmosphere of the venue π€ππ
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Sir Frankie is indeed a good doggie!:-)
HA! I love that birds visit the cafe, too. π
I’ve known of birds who stood on the mat outside a store to cause the automatic door to open and then they’d walk in. Smart! Ha! π
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Haha β¦ no doors hereβ¦ the cafe is covered but pleasantly open to the spring air πΌπ€ππΆ
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Splendid writing, Ivor! I hope the referendum passes! β€ Would a newspaper publish this?
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Thanks Cheryl and I wrote the poem for Dome poetry group tomorrow morning, our assignment was to write a Monologue … I’ll see how my piece goes at the meeting π€βπ
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Beautiful, Ivor! I pray the referendum passes.
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Thank you Annette β¦ hopefully common sense will prevail π€π
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Thank you for your kind support David …
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I really like this poem Ivor! It is very good! β€
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Thank you kindly, Carol … ππ
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