Coniston

CONISTON


The Lander River has
many tributaries of red
gumtree lined soakage sand;
Star Creek, Warburton Creek,
Tower Creek, Crown Creek,
Spring Creek, Brookes Creek;
even one red thin branch
called Blackfellow Creek.

Lending your women, a welcome,
like a wooden spearthrower,
and then, soon, expecting
them back, even if it
was culturally-enshrined, but
long since abused, just what
were they, just what was
wild Bullfrog thinking?

Borrowing one of
their woman and then
expecting to hold her,
not give her back
when any trespass of
their law meant death
in the old custom. What
was Brookes thinking?

As if human desire,
and human emotions,
were only plusses
to be gratified
that did not have
their negative pole,
that magnetic terminal
impelling to the kill.

The Lander River has
many tributaries of red
gumtree lined soakage sand;
Star Creek, Warburton Creek,
Tower Creek, Crown Creek,
Spring Creek, Brookes Creek;
even one red thin branch
called Blackfellow Creek.