Dark fists of ancient lava point their fingers to the sky
Seen by many motorists from the Highway that goes by.
But unless you stop and take the time, you may never know
This was once a huge volcano, thirteen million years ago.
The Koori people have been living here for forty thousand years,
They did not change the landscape, and lived quite free of fear,
They travelled where they had to, they never settled down,
They followed their known food source, always changing ground.
But then came the knowing white man from way across the sea,
Brought his own ideas and culture, his idea of being free.
He chased the Koori people, took their land, and some he shot
Then he raped the landscape, killed trees and burned a lot.
He ploughed the ground and killed the grass that had survived
In this harsh and varied climate, where many things have died
He planted foreign grass and tried to grow his foreign grain,
Then cried and beat his breast when it failed from lack of rain
But I must admire his courage, and his dogged determination
For I am a proud citizen of what's now the Australian Nation.
Yet I wonder if it's justice that the white man rules this land
And will the caretakers of this ancient place really understand ?
Author notes
Koori is a term for Aboriginal or the indigenous people of Australia.
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Another beautiful piece. I have never been to Australia, but I tutored a kid who was doing a report on the country, and it introduced me to some of its history and beauty.
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Thank you from my heart. You have chosen to read the first of a series that is important to me personally. The Warrumbungle area is full of hisory and I am working on a series to highlight the area. It will be a long time coming together.
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Beautiful poem, Bob. I really enjoyed this story. I have never seen this but I am sure it is a wonderful sight. It is progression of humanity that changes and I don't think no one species will ever truly hold claim to the land. Time marches on as it did for the dinosaurs and other animals. Man will run his race in time as well. It may have been the aborigines in times gone by, now white man...who knows who or what will follow us and leave us in history. Just so wonderfully written and I am waiting for the follow up.
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Hi Condor, Seems I missed replying to this one somehow. I thank you for your comprehensive comment. This one is the first of a series but the next may be a while getting on site. It's hard work when I have to research to get the feelings to go with the words. It is very important to me o get this series right. I guess that is why I place so much value on comments such as yours. Thank you once again.
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Great work. This is one of my favourites of yours. Wonderfully well written!
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Many thanks John. This is part of an extended series I am trying to write to cover the area known as the Warrumbungle National Park. It's B--- hard work.
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Bob
I often wonder. Was this just meant to be. Is it part of growing & evolution? It seems that in times of progression someone always pays for it.
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I wonder too my friend. Evolution is basically the survival of the strongest in the face of adversity. Maybe it's all part of a plan we haven't thought of yet. Appreciate your commenting my friend.
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I remember driving past it on the way up to Bundaberg in 1981.
Good solid beat. Can't see much change needed.
Good line:"Then cried and beat his breast when it failed from lack of rain" Silly buggers, trying to recreate England!
Changes?
Try inserting many: 'where many other things have died'
Try: 'now this Australian Nation', instead of 'the'.
Any way to tie together the first few lines with the last one? The last line seems a bit flat to me.
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I have fiddled a bit and made some small changes. Don't know if it's better or not. Can't tie the first and last together though. Will sleep on it and have another go in the morning. Very many thanks, my friend, I appreciate your help. Sometimes I can't see the forest, there are too many trees.
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