Throat

Throat is a poetry collection by Aboriginal writer Ellen van Neerven that confronts issues of identity, sexuality, and belonging in contemporary Australia. The poems move between urban and natural landscapes while exploring the author's experiences as a Mununjali Yugambeh person. The collection is structured in distinct sections that address different facets of resistance, desire, and connection to Country. Van Neerven's verses examine both personal relationships and broader political themes, including climate change and Indigenous sovereignty. The poems range from compact, sparse pieces to longer narrative works that incorporate elements of memoir and social commentary. Through both traditional and experimental forms, the collection captures voices of protest alongside moments of tenderness and celebration. This work stands as a testament to Indigenous storytelling and queer perspectives, asking questions about what it means to inhabit multiple identities in modern Australia. The collection speaks to themes of cultural inheritance and the ongoing impact of colonization while asserting the power of language as a tool for survival and transformation.

Readers emphasize the collection's raw honesty in exploring Indigenous and queer identity in Australia. They note how van Neerven weaves sports themes with personal experiences and cultural commentary. Likes: - Accessible poetry style that feels like natural speech - Strong connection between body, identity, and place - Sports metaphors that add depth to personal narratives - Exploration of family relationships and heritage Dislikes: - Some readers found certain poems too literal or straightforward - A few noted uneven quality across the collection - Several mentioned difficulty connecting with sports-focused pieces Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (119 ratings) "The directness hits you in the gut" - Goodreads reviewer "Poetry that doesn't hide behind fancy language" - Australian Poetry Review Written reviews often highlight the "Type" sequence about sport and identity as particularly impactful, while the environmentally-focused poems receive fewer mentions.

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🌿 "Throat" is Ellen van Neerven's first poetry collection, published in 2020, though they had previously written award-winning fiction and short stories. 🦘 The collection explores themes of Indigenous sovereignty and queer identity through the lens of van Neerven's Mununjali Yugambeh heritage. 📝 The book's title poem "Throat" specifically addresses the colonial violence of English language being forced upon First Nations people. 🏆 The collection won the 2021 Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry and was shortlisted for the 2021 Judith Wright Calanthe Award. 🗣️ Van Neerven uses their poetry to challenge binary gender concepts, incorporating both personal experiences and broader cultural commentary about gender identity in modern Australia.