Stop
When I say
Your words are like needles,
Pricking every fibre of my humanity,
Threatening to go deeper every time.
Stop
When you notice
You’re on the verge of violence.
Names hurt worse than sticks and stones
So don’t pretend that they go over my head.
Stop
When you realise
What you’re doing does not help me.
All it does is further stigmas,
Files me to the side
Of what you think is normal.
Stop.
Is it really that hard?
Does your right to use your voice
Trump my right to be alive?
You have your power – now use it for good.
Stop
Before it’s too late.
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.