STOP PRESS
Congratulations to our blogger Ali Cobby Eckermann on winning both the NSW Book of the Year and the Poetry Award for her work “Ruby Moonlight” 

Here is her poem for today

Mum Said!

Mum said she
wanted to give me a hug this morning
for all the smacks she gave me when I was a child
Mum said she
used to get so angry
Mum said she
struggled that I was different from other children
Mum said she
didn’t know what to do back then
Mum said she
hoped I could forgive her.

She held open her arms
This adopted mother of mine
This woman with white skin   and white hair   and white heart.

I climb inside the embrace
This adopted daughter of hers
This woman with brown skin   and brown hair   and brown heart.

I said Mum
I forgave you a long time ago.

Ali Cobby Eckermann “Little Bit Long Time”, 2009