Login
|
Join PoetrySoup
Home
Submit Poems
Login
Sign Up
Member Home
My Poems
My Quotes
My Profile & Settings
My Inboxes
My Outboxes
Soup Mail
Contest Results/Status
Contests
Poems
Poets
Famous Poems
Famous Poets
Dictionary
Types of Poems
Quotes
Short Stories
Articles
Forum
Blogs
Poem of the Day
New Poems
Resources
Syllable Counter
Anthology
Grammar Check
Greeting Card Maker
Classifieds
Member Area
Member Home
My Profile and Settings
My Poems
My Quotes
My Short Stories
My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder
Soup Social
Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us
Member Poems
Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Random
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread
Member Poets
Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest
Famous Poems
Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100
Famous Poets
Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War
Poetry Resources
Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Email Poem
Your IP Address: 3.138.101.69
Your Email Address:
Required
Email Address Not Valid.
To Email Address:
Email Address Not Valid.
Required
Subject
Required
Personal Note:
Poem Title:
Poem
The Cooee-booroo was Irish, a migrant to this land, who fled his native Galway and the grip of famine's hand. For fifteen years he'd forged a life 'round Goulburn, New South Wales, though sought his dream on Coopers Creek, out where the black man hails. Where native Bootamurra folk for years were known to roam, the place they called Thullung-gurra - their ancient tribal home. Kyabra's unspoilt waterhole was home to fish and birds, though Patsy Durack had in mind to bring his cattle herds. 'Twas here he met young Burrakin, a figure barely clad, who claimed the man ... Boonari now ... to this young native lad. Though Patsy called him Pumpkin ... much easier in the end and like the humble vegetable he proved the bushman's friend. For that proud Bootamurra youth, a whole new life began, as Pumpkin loved the Durack folk and claimed them as his clan. He watched them build their empire through the good times and the bleak; for sixteen years he helped them build grass castles on the Creek. When Patsy finally left the run to try the city’s fare, he left old Pumpkin as head man and thought him better there. Then Durack planned to build a run up in the Kimberleys: an empire for his two young sons, a kind of legacy. But Pumpkin yearned the company of Patsy, his dear friend and left his old Kyabra home to join him in the end. He stood by Patsy Durack till the old man passed away, though stayed to keep the dream alive and rests there to this day. These two Australian pioneers did leave a legacy- the meaning of true brotherhood - as you can plainly see. So whether you be white or black, do copy if you can, the Cooee-booroo from Ireland and that Bootamurra man. I have always enjoyed reading the early history of our Australian pioneers and the Durack family certainly played their part in opening up this vast country. Sometimes the seemingly minor characters, who become an integral part of that history, tend to fade into insignificance with the passing of time. Characters such as Burrakin [Pumpkin] of the Bootamurra people, whose life was completely changed by the coming of the Durack family to Kyabra Ck. Burrakin's outstanding display of loyalty to his white brother, Patsy Durack, is well worth remembering. My tribute to both men
CAPTCHA Preview
Type the characters you see in the picture
Required