In human time we will have shed
whole versions of ourselves
before one leaf dislodges from its stem…
~ from 'Sweedman's Sprawling Mallee' by Nandi Chinna
Created by Red Room Poetry in collaboration with local poets, New Shoots is a poetic project that connects people, plants and place, with the aim of deepening our cultural and creative connections with nature.
With support from Eucalypt Australia and City of Perth, four Western Australian poets created and recorded new poems responding to specific mallee species, sites and ecosystems in WA and Kings Park Botanic Garden. These new works were performed as part of Perth Writers Week in February 2019. They are also published online, in learning resources and embedded in the Park to grow the garden of poems.
Poet reflections
Our poets reflect on their New Shoots WA experience:
- 'On a perfect summer morning, the eucalypts and I are breathing' ~ Renee Pettitt-Schipp
- 'I have always held a special connection to the Boodjar' – Daniel Hansen
- 'I was humbled to become a part of something greater than just being a poet alone' – Luke Sweedman
- 'I like to just hang around the plant and see what happens' – Nandi Chinna
Watch
Poetry readings on mallee:
