ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

The Dawn of Red Fury


The red glow transforms the landscape and turns the sky to pink,
stains piyar-piyarpa to magenta.
The Anangu are watching the red dawn fury creep in
painting Tjanpi and rocks bright red, in this arid centre.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta welcomes all who come their way.
It’s wise to show the land here some respect.
Don’t climb the face of Uluru, honour the Ancient ones.
That bright red dawn this morning was her anger I suspect.

Smooth paths have formed over the years from tourists tramping feet,
her face is changed by desert winds and rain.
She now needs our protection – she is fragile, she is old
Eroding sandstone rock is now decaying, causing pain.

Already Uluru has claimed more than thirty five souls.
She speaks – but will you take the time to hear.
Each footprint in the sand may stay unaltered for a week,
her native plants are sensitive – and walking tracks are clear.

Environment is fragile - when you walk on her hot sands
you crush the homes of those who live beneath.
The tiny skinks and lizards who seek shelter in these lands -
are mute, but this is their home and its beauty they bequeath.

This land is rich with tucker if you have the eyes to see
There’s kangaroo the people call malu.
The women love the sweetness of the minga - honey ants,
and make the tribal medicines from the red wayanu.

In this part of Australia there’s more than meets the eye.
This ancient land exceeds our sphere of time.
She welcomes you. Please show respect to people and culture.
Open your heart and eyes to her. Hear her eternal rhyme.



Maureen Clifford © 03/12

piyar-piyarpa - Galahs
Anangu - Traditional owners http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/ulu ... index.html (some great little video clips here)
Tjanpi - Spinifex
malu - Kangaroo
minga - Ants
wayanu - Quondong
Uluru aka Ayers Rock
Kata Tjuta aka The Olgas

G'day Maureen, I have spent quite a lot of time in that country over the last twenty years, it is funny to talk to some of the old timers who have been there for a long, long time and hear there version of events, considerably different to the stuff you see printed in such literature as in the link you have included. I noticed a few pictures of dot paintings.....invented by a white fella in Papunya about thirty years ago!...
Just as a matter of interest, I drilled all the holes to stand the poles that supports the building pictured on the header of that pamphlet, in 1994!
There is some great scenery around there I must say though.

And it's still standing? They must have been good holes Ross.

It looks very beautiful you are a lucky man in many ways to live and work around that area - something I think a lot of us wouldn't be able to handle. Is that true about the dot paintings????? I have never heard that before - do you know more about the reasons etc etc?

I know that site link I included is a Government site so by the very nature of that suspect cynically that the information contained is presented in the best light for the tourists but it was the one that had the best videos and photos on it to showcase the area. There are lots of sites all interesting about the area and the people if people want to take the time to look and learn

My poem was actually inspired by this photo taken by Boris Mar - who is on another site I am on. I count it as one of the best I have seen of Uluru. This was his comment.

In September 2010 I went to Uluru in Australia's Red Centre. A long way from anywhere. My aim; to photograph Uluru from a new, refreshing point of view. However, I could not have hoped for what I witnessed. On my 4th day of photographing I experienced one of my most spectacular sunrises to date. Minutes before sunrise, a red glow transformed the landscape around Uluru into a mystical land. A feeling of fury dominated the atmosphere. Uluru was awake. Its anger noticeable. Over what? Unfortunately, I'll never know..

.

Cheers

Maureen

Yes a very good shot, it is undouptedly one of the most spectacular sights you can see, it can actually change before your very eyes at times! I would question the colours in that shot though, I know one of the better known photographers from around here, John Henshall, he admits that sometimes they use a filter to achieve the colours as we see them on the photo, the colour of the ground makes me a bit suspicious but I do see many spectacular sunsets and sunrises in the desert, unfortunately I don't photograph as many as I should!

Yes Ross, I was in and around that neck of the woods in 2005.

Talked to an ol' aboriginal bloke who told me he'd 'stood up' all the poles around Yalara.

The scenery does seem 'altered'. But I am not a dedicated photographer.

I am wanting to return to that which I refer to as the 'Isolated Outback', but probably too late now.
That which follows is one from my Amblin' Australia Collection -

Wise ol’ Coolibah.

Standin’ on a river bank watchin’ times pass by,
your shape is ever changin’ as is the distant sky,
from a young and splendid sapling more than a century ago,
you have seen some mighty changes which many can not know.

Tuned to a turbid river, tuned to her tidal flow.

You listened to her silence, you listened to her news.
You heard her gentle sighing and heard her point of views.
She brought you need for wiseness, she helped to make you strong,
listen to your river, listen to her song.

Tune to a turbid river, tune to her tidal flow.

Back in 1770 when times were hard and tough,
you heard about a sailing ship with crewmen very rough.
You heard about a captain who sailed to come and look
for a beautiful southland country - you know his name was Cook.

Tuned to a turbid river, tuned to her tidal flow.

Fast floods they came and soon they went, to make way for the drought,
swiftly flowing waters, tried to pull your roots right out,
while dry times sapped remaining strength but still you had to grow.

Tune to a turbid river, tune to her tidal flow.

Your form became grotesque, malformed, it was forever change.
Decades passed and seasons went through times eternal range.
But still today you’re standin’ there, your leaves nod as if they know.

Tuned to a turbid river, tuned to her tidal flow.
I listened wisely to your thoughts in tuned, in timed tableau.

(c).Rimeriter. 2006.
Revised 3/2012.

Jim - put your post out there separately so people can find it and just make reference to it here.

Its very good I like it.

"Thanks again" Maureen.

I write 'em for pleasure. Not for the fame.
It matters not, if they're considered lame.
When others as you do enjoy them as well,
the remainder just miss out, as you also can tell.
(c).Rimeriter.3/12.

Bugger, I've tried to eliminate the duplication using edit, then cancel.

Wont work>
HELP.

All fixed by one of the moderators Jim (me)

Regards


John Peel

Hey John you're a gem.

Not sure from your image, but you must hail from opal country ?