You said that I should see a whale -
a giant from the southern seas
swimming song-lines up the coast,
and so I came on board your boat
to wait and look.
You told me humpbacks follow
ancient ocean-routes
beyond their icy water-home,
bellies full of krill,
for corroboree
up north.
Aha! I see her!
Just like the sea is the sudden whale!
She’s breaching, grey on white –
a fluke – her tail! It’s huge!
Slap! Smack!
I saw a whale today.
Long, Long ago in a hut made of bark
Children awoke to a loud raptors hark,
Where misty moonlight filled the night sky
And shimmering stars twinkled up high.
They never did flinch from what they did hear
As birds were more vocal that time of year,
Day time like nighttime the animals spoke
To tell of their stories to all the kinfolk.
Plus not faraway a corroboree grew
Where they could peer out to get a vast view,
And what they did see had widened their eyes
They thought they were dreaming from such a surprise!
Aunties combined all clapping their sticks
A shadow was cast to lunar eclipse,
Didgeridoo loudened and looped
A traditional song for all who had grouped.
Singing had echoed and how it was grand
Whilst dancers kicked dust and golden white sand,
Though this was real common in such an event
Where music evoked all that was dreamt.
There through the flames and embers that flew
The children were puzzled if anyone knew...
As never before within their lifespan
Was sighted a dancing goanna-man.
The beauty
Of
Namatjira
White haired
Bark painter's
Of fish
Wandjina
Feathered man
Full sunset
Corroboree
Pintubi
Dancers
In watercourse
Colours
Of hills
And rangers
Near Henbury
Or was it
Kings canyon
South
Alice springs
Dome like peaks
Of Olga's
Stark landscape
Barren
Barkly
Near Soudan
Where
Dust storms
A common hazard
The faces
Of William Richetts
In the Maelstrom
Those colours
Of time
And day
House Wife's
Bushman
Children of the
Banka, Banka
Old hats
Tin shacks
The Southern Cross
Spinning
Creaking
Just there
In the sky
A Rhyme
To its own time
Wonky
Old water tank
Those proud
Spearman
From
Emily Gap
A shared history
Not us
Them
Just the
Layers of life
Turned sideways
Like
Krichauff Rangers
Somewhere
Out west
Where Echidna
Thorny Devil
( my favourite )
Freshwater tortoises
Swimming
Crocs
Beauty
In birds
Of flowers
Palms
In valleys
Secrets
Of bushman
Ringers
Dreams
Of its people
And fading
Its
Fading
Memories
Think I need a flag…
To reflect my being
Think I need a flag
For everyone sightseeing
To admire all my qualities
And individuality
A flag to tag not to brag
Though representing…
Me.
Think I need a flag…
To hold up very high
And higher it will go
Way up UP into the sky
Enormous it will be
Once it is erected
When it’s set you can bet
Will only be projected
With a colourful supersized
Pole to hold it fast
Bound to be forevermore
Quality to last
Think I need a flag…
To decorate the earth
A flag to symbolise myself
And all my riches worth
Once I have my flag
Will feel quite liberated
For ownership of my flag
Will be celebrated
From everyone around the world
Who’ll see my flag as fine
And a zillion duplicates to make
For the flag of mine
Think I need a flag…
To identify
All of me they will see
Me, Myself and I
Never will there be a flag
Better than my own
To blow around in the wind
To make myself well known
People they will love it
With corroboree
The greatest flag we ever had
Representing…
Me.
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