Denise Nolasco

Denise Nolasco writes about Gail Hocking in Neoterica 2024.

in movement, formless, nameless,
at glacial pace, evolving.
numbness – softens, thaws, into
a gentle cascade, submerged.

in your depth, sacred design,
in your stillness, temper. yet -
still tender is your embrace,
to love and seek no return.

beneath the expanse, spaciousness.
Hininga1 as spirit,
ancient wisdom locked in ice.
is to thaw, merciful? Remorseless?

we crave Mother’s offerings,
yet scarcity seeks to hold.
What was once a gift, transforms -
shared abundance to clutched heirloom.

to partake is to traverse,
outstretched, misshapen, weary.
in haste, we grasp, eyes closed to the cost,
unmoored to soul’s reservoir.

beauty bound by pain, yet
we deplete, unheedingly.
if life's wellspring is boundless,
pain’s cry, lacks the force to stir.

urgent beauty, dormant power
yearning for more than symbols.
change awaits, is it enough?
when is the measure of plenty?⟡

1 ‘The concept of shared humanity is inherent in Filipino language. KA, the syllable that precedes many relational words such as kapatid (sibling) and kaibigan (friend), is represented in the ancient Tagalog script as two wavy lines connected by a line. A wavy line is HA, which can be interpreted as hangin (wind) or hininga (breath, spirit)’ Carl Lorenz Cervantes, The psychology of community and revolution https://sikodiwa.substack.com/p/the-psychology-of-community-and-revolution

⟡ This poem is a Tanaga, a poetic form indigenous to the Philippines. As I am an Australian-born Filipino person, responding to Gail’s work in this way created the conditions to connect with the land and my own ancestral wisdom, in a way that I understood Gail’s approach in her work and her relationship with the environment.

Denise Nolasco (she/her) is a passionate Australian-born Filipino community organiser, peer mentor, and facilitator. Drawing inspiration from pre-colonial approaches to community care, Denise's work centres around fostering genuine connections with individuals who have firsthand experience with racism in Australia, while embracing a lived-experience lens. With a deep-rooted belief in the transformative power of collective action, Denise champions the notion that "without community, there is no liberation" (Audre Lorde). Her extensive involvement spans diverse roles in the grassroots not-for-profit sector, including a term as co-Director for the Drop-in Care Space—a peer-led community centre for queer, neurodivergent, and disabled people on Kaurna Land (South Australia). Denise's practice is marked by her commitment to nurturing authentic relationships, advocating for marginalised voices, and challenging systemic oppression. Her unwavering dedication to community-driven change is a driving force behind her endeavors.