before a royal commission
one sketch:
this girl’s face
behind bars
her hair and clothes
black
all her tears
from blue eyes
bleeding red
without yuletide
gifts at christmas
island
no matter
the faith
to which she was born
there was just
one present
she’d prayed for
You can read more about the inspiration for this poem in the article Detained children risk life-long physical and mental harm on The Conversation.
