Traditional Owner Poem by Phil Charters

you; traditional owner,
who;
into the fire blew,
fanning the flames, higher, higher;
singeing the serpent,
who;
with tear filled eyes
and sorrow filled heart,
slithered away,
withdrew.
leaving its people,
you;
defeated, lost, shattered respect;
dissolving the bonding glue;
holding to nothing that’s true.

your culture now sold off a shelf,
by pretty young girls,
wearing white skin,
betraying the lie therein.

hoodwinked:

traditional owner, you,
reality a window comes through;
irritating,
tugging my conscious,
picking up garbage were you.

white man rolling in cash:
blackman picking up trash:

traditional owner, you?
traditional maybe,
owner, nay!
get back back back,
to your thew.
play your didgeridoo
hunt the kangaroo

regain your culture must
you.
for then shall you succeed
when white man falters on greed

i have naught but respect for
you

memories of kakadu.