Girlhood

Art by Amanda Lim

Untangling complex mind tricks and games,

A loving hand to hold when you feel untamed,

You think about the divide;

An innocent evil,

The petrichor on a Monday afternoon.

 

A true labyrinth,

A deep concentrate of love,

How can the relationship between friends be so sinister,

Yet be underpinned by such lyrical jubilation?

The sound of our laughter – euphonious.

Our power to harm – surreptitious.

 

Relief arrives after hours of reflection and longing,

A bond between women that is bound by thick, strengthening ropes. 

Jealousy accompanies visions of her with another.

But, every relationship is lasting; 

Metaphorical sister, metaphorical mother.

 

Through the caves we navigate,

To a place so familiar and chilling.

It makes us light and dizzy.

And just like lasting threads and the witchcraft of girlhood,

It keeps us together.

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Woroni, Woroni Radio and Woroni TV are created, edited, published, printed and distributed. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We acknowledge that the name Woroni was taken from the Wadi Wadi Nation without permission, and we are striving to do better for future reconciliation.