The Moment is a year-long series of poems featuring new work from some of our most exciting First Nations and/or other poets of colour, responding to the current cultural moment we find ourselves in today.

My name was my name before
                            I walked among the living

The narrative we’re expected to tell is one that affirms white liberal saviour sensibilities: How could we not keep this foreigner safe in our country?

choose.
choose is whitefella language.
my native tongue
‘blackfella’.

I was offered a seemingly simple solution: Take off the hijab, and assimilate.

“It’s called Arabic, you dense wanker.”

the name ordained by the gods. tattooed on our tongues so we don’t forget.

*Warning: Spoilers ahead*

but is your skin too rough? Will its jagged edges cut what ties you together?

If it’s a game of chance,
then why do you never lose?