NAMATJIRA Poem by Oodgeroo Noonuccal

Aboriginal man, you walked with pride,
And painted with joy the countryside.
Original man, your fame grew fast,
Men pointed you out as you went past.

But vain the honour and tributes paid
For you strangled in rules the white man made:
You broke no law of your own wild clan
Which says, 'share all with your fellow-man.'

What did their loud acclaim avail
Who gave you honour, then gave you jail?
Namatjira, they boomed your art,
They called you genius, then broke your heart.