Bora born

The perfume creek mob _

On the footbridge they gather
just past sunset, what else to do.
Tea's finished, time to walk into dark
to meet the crew.

On his nightly circuit into town
he sees them, they're usually there.
Just standing, not moving
sussing out who moves their way.

They see his belt light flashing
most know him by now.
He knows some of their parents
this bridge their patch of ground.

You see, it depends on the money
what they get up to each night.
Sometimes it's sniffing, sometimes drinking
it's how these kids
shout each other out.

These Murri kids have no idea
what lurks about this place.
Street lights smashed from a rogue 22
mark this dark, far from safe.

So they gather and huddle, to think
safety in numbers no doubt.
If they knew what lurks about them
terror would scream
through their hearts.

Young teenagers, to girls in their twenties
the dark attracts the absence of light.
The unseen ones single them out
the dark light shadow, behind
one foot to the right.

To squeeze each soul with a bony hand
and whisper and nibble at their minds.
To break their will with thoughts of hate
their creative impulse failing to rise.

So he talks to them of this and that
not telling them what to do.
Just lets them know his heart is sore
and their parents would feel
this way too.

By the time he returns
after a tea break at Perroto's
most times they've left the place.
Perfume creek, where the sewage would flow
thank God they got that one right.

- O -
          
© July 2004 _ Nhawrr yirrpa  


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The perfume creek mob _

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