That day the tiny flies that are the native honey bees
licked our skin for salt & it tickled.
So the kids searched for the hive high in a tree
screaming with delight when it was found
Dinny walked straight up the smooth white trunk
& carefully along the limb with a short axe,
sat down & wrapped his legs for purchase.
He chopped away, chips flying down
While the kids chanted & danced encouragement.
& carefully along the limb with a short axe,
sat down & wrapped his legs for purchase.
He chopped away, chips flying down
While the kids chanted & danced encouragement.
The limb crashed & the hive dropped to the ground.
We all dug in & ate the sweet black honey
Swallowing bees mixed with sticks & leaves.
Dinny waved & went back to camp.
& the kids took off in another direction.
I followed their fading voices.
We all dug in & ate the sweet black honey
Swallowing bees mixed with sticks & leaves.
Dinny waved & went back to camp.
& the kids took off in another direction.
I followed their fading voices.
When I crashed out of the bush
blinding light
firm white salt pan
reflecting the glare & the clear blue sky,
Bare, brilliant, overwhelming.
Absolute, utter silence.
No bird calls.
No wildlife.
No vegetation.
No footprints that I could see.
Only Frog hill in the distance.
blinding light
firm white salt pan
reflecting the glare & the clear blue sky,
Bare, brilliant, overwhelming.
Absolute, utter silence.
No bird calls.
No wildlife.
No vegetation.
No footprints that I could see.
Only Frog hill in the distance.
The kids far ahead, big girls carrying the little ones
As I walked towards them they merged into a huddle.
Bowed faces Staring down looking at the ground.
Wondering, I joined the huddle & bent over to look at that spot,
I saw the shadows, the texture of the sand, our feet.
Then I said, ‘What is this place?’
As I walked towards them they merged into a huddle.
Bowed faces Staring down looking at the ground.
Wondering, I joined the huddle & bent over to look at that spot,
I saw the shadows, the texture of the sand, our feet.
Then I said, ‘What is this place?’
‘This Eunice place,’
Friday by the river I said to Benjamin aged 6,
‘What is your guardian animal?
‘Water goanna,’ sir, I’ll show you.
Benjamin waved & took me to his place.
‘What is your guardian animal?
‘Water goanna,’ sir, I’ll show you.
Benjamin waved & took me to his place.
We climbed up on to a fallen tree by the river.
He pointed to a hollow, ‘my mother had me here.
She had her feet like this.
The water goanna was watching me come out.’
He pointed to a hollow, ‘my mother had me here.
She had her feet like this.
The water goanna was watching me come out.’
The big kids looked for crocodile signs.
They nodded ‘nothing’ & smiled.
The girls swam in long missionary dresses,
fabric trailing through the water.
They nodded ‘nothing’ & smiled.
The girls swam in long missionary dresses,
fabric trailing through the water.
Some kids plastered themselves with mud
& lay in the sun to bake.
When dry they leapt from trees into the river
shouting at the top of their voices.
& lay in the sun to bake.
When dry they leapt from trees into the river
shouting at the top of their voices.
remembering 1970 - written 2008
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