I have started a course on ‘writing across cultures’ at university. I’m still in the first week of the course but I wanted to discuss the first text we have read, ‘Ruby Moonlight’ by Ali Cobby Eckermann. It’s a story in the form of short poems that tell a story about an aboriginal woman who has lost her mob. It is a short story you can finish in an hour and is written in a wonderful style. The story is incredibly emotive in style, the poems use of length and form shows the imagery as well, a falling leaf’s path is shown by the way a poem swirls across the page.
The story is short and wonderful, I highly recommend it to anyone with a spare hour or two.
The story focuses on loss, losing your family and mob due to colonisation. Mourning, trying to survive and grieve. She finds someone to care about, but that relationship is endangered by the prejudice of his own people and their colonisation. She gets a taste of home from another mob travelling through the area. When she finally leaves due to the dangers of being in a relationship with a coloniser. The story is beautiful.
I know I haven’t given the greatest pitch but if you get the chance pick up ‘Ruby Moonlight’ and give it a read.
Zoe Joy Blog 