Bora born
Father michael finnigan _
He came up north to build the church
in '56 in search of work
just a few months the ad had read
they saw him coming, enough said.
Before he knew it the job grew
to help them fill more pious pews
luck would have it all proclaimed, his
destiny was to be ordained.
Then so it was, yes so it went
he found no need to pay for rent
in PNG his fortunes changed
in the highlands michael prayed.
Out to the jungle tribes somewhere
they sent my friend and left him there
for three long years till '61
when stories spread, what have they done.
Not one white man had michael seen
in those three long years, so it seems
he'd gone troppo the bishop found
his western mind gone underground.
Melbourne bound for a six month break
stroked the genie seclusion makes
shock therapy did the trick, as
they hooked up poor young father mick.
In no short time to fry his brain
then sent him back to tropic rain
no one else would look this place
save father mick's new state of grace.
Back in the highlands with the rain
where the cargo cult's sense still reigned
they kept him closer in to find
it helps when clocks tell mountain time.
He climbed one of them just last year
past twelve thousand feet just to see
a plane wreck left from WW2
above the jungle snow clouds brew.
The kokoda track his pet hike
three times in recent years in spite
of joints that creak each time he walks
and, stories told each time he talks.
By and by he comes down to cairns
skin cancer tends to stretch his tan
into patch work quilts age defines
at 80 years time gathers time.
I met him just the other day
on the esplanade, true to say
he'd been to church then on his bike
for exercise to keep health right.
Ask anyone from up that place
how's father michael's state of grace
all who know him seem to find, their
father mick is one of a kind.
- O -
© 13th feb 2014 _ Nhawrr yirrpa
Read the author's notes here.
in '56 in search of work
just a few months the ad had read
they saw him coming, enough said.
Before he knew it the job grew
to help them fill more pious pews
luck would have it all proclaimed, his
destiny was to be ordained.
Then so it was, yes so it went
he found no need to pay for rent
in PNG his fortunes changed
in the highlands michael prayed.
Out to the jungle tribes somewhere
they sent my friend and left him there
for three long years till '61
when stories spread, what have they done.
Not one white man had michael seen
in those three long years, so it seems
he'd gone troppo the bishop found
his western mind gone underground.
Melbourne bound for a six month break
stroked the genie seclusion makes
shock therapy did the trick, as
they hooked up poor young father mick.
In no short time to fry his brain
then sent him back to tropic rain
no one else would look this place
save father mick's new state of grace.
Back in the highlands with the rain
where the cargo cult's sense still reigned
they kept him closer in to find
it helps when clocks tell mountain time.
He climbed one of them just last year
past twelve thousand feet just to see
a plane wreck left from WW2
above the jungle snow clouds brew.
The kokoda track his pet hike
three times in recent years in spite
of joints that creak each time he walks
and, stories told each time he talks.
By and by he comes down to cairns
skin cancer tends to stretch his tan
into patch work quilts age defines
at 80 years time gathers time.
I met him just the other day
on the esplanade, true to say
he'd been to church then on his bike
for exercise to keep health right.
Ask anyone from up that place
how's father michael's state of grace
all who know him seem to find, their
father mick is one of a kind.
- O -
© 13th feb 2014 _ Nhawrr yirrpa
Read the author's notes here.
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Father michael finnigan _
Father michael finnigan _
