Tabled
By Mahalia Charlotte
They are legislating about us, for us, against us
again.
Repudiating our lives, our loves.
We are “Repulsive.”
They are Reactive.
Let us be Resplendent.
They are quick to speak names for unspeakable acts.
Hear them besmirch buggery, belittle and butcher ‘butch’ery.
I find poetry in our blasphemy
and I pray.
I pray –
nothing can tear down our places of holy worship
because we are baptised in multi-coloured light.
You baptise me.
mouths locked, legs entwined, tongues wet.
They can try and outlaw the way you make me feel.
I mean, it must be illegal to tempt one as easily
as you do I –
to part my lips so simply
hear me breathe inside you
sigh in carbon dioxide warmth
exhale surrender –
I could capitulate softly, slowly
or yield with staccato moans.
It will be a nakedness,
a public indecency,
how I fold for you.
My love, I will commit this crime to memory.
Lock me up in your hea(r)t
behind between bars of hot flesh
freed by my sweetly spoken name.
Post bail through my mailbox lips.
They say it’s a felony to love you so deeply.
They say it’s grand larceny; you’ve stolen my hysterical heart.
I say it was given willingly.
I too am liable.
I will plead guilty and be sentenced to life.
Emma Trenorden is a mparntwe-based poet and singer-songwriter. Born on the volcanic island of Rabaul, she now calls the red dirt and blue skies of Arrernte country home. She is an Arts Therapist with an interest in how we care for our wellbeing in a changing climate. In 2024 she released her debut EP,
reWILD, alongside a debut book of poems,
HIGH FIRE DANGER. The poems, written in response to the Black Summer Fires, and songs of
reWILD are a way for Emma to contemplate ways to stay connected to our wildness in these turbulent times.
Mahalia Charlotte writes about women – how they survive and live in this world. In 2025, she won the Katherine Heat of the Australian Poetry Slam and was a Top End Finalist. She was also chosen as part of Red Room’s 30in30 commissioned works. In 2026 she has been invited to speak at the Red Dirt Poetry Festival.
Spandana Pillarisetty is living and writing from Mparntwe/ Alice Springs on Arrernte country. They were born and raised in Hyderabad on the Deccan Plateau, before moving to Wurundjeri country for almost ten years. Currently they work with young people and communities on Arrernte country and continue to be moved by the stories that people and places hold.
Salty Plums (2022) is their first collection of poetry about sharing food in the public spaces of Mparntwe and they have since written poems whenever they can.
