River out of Africa
The map of the world was etched into the walls
of the candle, this fat candle burning lower
into its self-made pit; and then awash with wax
began to drown in its own liquifaction
—until it found a way at last to melt a gap
in one pale wall. Immediately, the molten
refugees came pouring out: to stay was to see
the flame snuffed out, to go was to slide
into the dark hoping to settle somewhere cooler,
where refugees could settle undisturbed, a river
out of Africa like the first naked apes becoming
pale and waxen and spreading slowly into the cold.
Many will disagree, but World War III is too great a risk to run by involving ourselves in a distant border conflict
Sep 25 2024
5 mins
To claim Aborigines have the world's oldest continuous culture is to misunderstand the meaning of culture, which continuously changes over time and location. For a culture not to change over time would be a reproach and certainly not a cause for celebration, for it would indicate that there had been no capacity to adapt. Clearly this has not been the case
Aug 20 2024
23 mins
A friend and longtime supporter of Quadrant, Clive James sent us a poem in 2010, which we published in our December issue. Like the Taronga Park Aquarium he recalls in its 'mocked-up sandstone cave' it's not to be forgotten
Aug 16 2024
2 mins