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AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS & WRITERS FOR RECONCILATION
Death Named You Too Soon by Terry McArthur

[Above] Photo of Terry McArthur by Deborah Young, 2007.

Terry McArthur

Death Named You Too Soon

(for Lee Madden 1963-2003)

Death named you too soon my boundless brother
Death came like the whisper of a raven in the night
And now this void between your coming and going
This emptiness and unbearable absence

I carry my grief to the quiet country
Beneath ancient rocks simmering desert
The sea's diamond blue horizon
Let me lay out the marks of my remembrance
Let me call down the sky to weep time's tears

I gather firestick and story
I hear the eternal song of seasons passing
The lament for all that will never be again
And just when I thought there is nothing but the roaring silence
Your voice
Your laughter
Your luminous liquid eyes
Beyond grief and joy
Beyond the shadows of the living and the dead
Beyond time and eternity

Dance on dancer
My brother
My proud Cadigal warrior man
The first and the last will be the first again

Dance on deathless feet



About the Writer Terry McArthur

Terry McArthur is a poet, musician and playright. Terry's plays include Country Of Tears for The Midnight Sun Theatre and Dance Company which was performed at the inaugural Sydney Arts Festival and Naratic Visions which he co-directed with Chin Kham Yoke. He has written produced and directed multi-media performances including Seeking Knowledge and Casting The Oracle for the Australian Awards For University Teaching, and New Horizons for the opening of the Sydney SuperDome. As a lyricist Terry has co-written the hit songs for John Farnham and James Blundell. As one half of the spoken word duo the cube he has released one album Permanent Scars and is now preparing to release Weapons Of Mass Sedition. Terry's poetry has been published in, Upland (University Of New England Press), Holes In The Evening (Fat Possum Press edited by Michael Sharkey) and The Tin Wash Dish (ABC Books edited by John Tranter), Thylazine, Blue Pepper and Stylus. Terry's latest collection of poems, Walking Skin is due for publication in early 2008.
   [Above] Photo of Terry McArthur by Deborah Young, 2007.