Bora born
Death of the rainman _
Thin, frail age, wire driven through his body
he revisits the place soaked with regret.
Too many loved ones have passed through the doors
never to see Kunjen country again.
Isolated, from all other patients
tuberculosis has spread through his spine
to seek the weakness from years of smoking
the blood leaky sickness, lodged deep inside.
His daughter Gwen, visits in ritual
this old Murri man of the Rainbow Snake Clan.
Seen not heard, her presence in reverence
the bedside dreamer of magazine stands.
Too little too late he melts in sickness
chemicals invade in cocktails of pain.
His daughter retreats, tied up by senses
his brother persists with walks through hard rain.
Somethings building, the deluge continues
the wet nightly walks all roll into one.
The massage he gives waits for the moment
the old man decides which way to move on.
Air depleted through his tired old body
the panic attacks in gasps, grasping air.
His brother arrives wet from the journey
called in by the night nurse, peace found again.
Left with the brother the gaze was drifting
in a steady stare with tear filled, still eyes.
Leaving his friend searching for others, who
came in through the room to wait by his side.
The old man pulls back, his daughter is found
the ritual resumes, she sleeps by his side.
The old ones draw near to test his memory
his fight near gone as they lift his hand high.
The moment his shade leaves on its journey
they name the great storm, his totem's released.
The rainbow snake, delivered from torment
water birthed, eight hundred miles to the east.
His brother was up in the high country
when the rainman passed on far below.
The master painting alive with meaning
broad brush strokes in fleece, signed natures new show.
Wagon train clouds high in the mountains
let those who know of the birth in the east.
An apocalypse, a new beginning
was about to greet his spirit released.
The great male storm gathered form in torment
intention refined, never left to guess.
As fast as they go like darts to the board
straight as an arrow it headed due west.
Driven down by new meaning, the serpents
sting, soon felt by all, above watered dirt.
Fleshed out in form with terrible knowledge
the brother prayed, less no one should be hurt.
The Evelyn buckled, the country bowed
down, the makings of man, shredded then bled.
The all seeing eye lined by blue lightning
slid by the one now alone in the shed.
Zoned inside from the water born madness
the brother lay back in a twilight spread.
Deep sleep sank in, as prayers repeated
to the roar of the wind inside his head.
Always by design the teaching given
the ALL in the rain in lessons of life.
Layers of raw sounds, wind blown in torment
freed all new growth from conscious driven strife.
An inner sense the serpent would pass, as
his dreaming trail spiraled close overhead.
An eden rebirthed among the gathering
inner peace found when strangers become friends.
Laid to rest two weeks later, his casket
left Cairns for his loved Kokoberra land.
The monsoon set in, hard rain fell down, to
follow him through to the freshly turned ground.
Skies cried out in the place of many
waters, falling hard the same as in Cairns.
Ranks of police arrived in tribute, to
honour this man of the Rainbow Snake Clan.
Peace held for a fresh new beginning
an elders long life has come to an end.
Children of _ the place of many waters
the rainbow race has already begun.
- O -
© apr 2006 _ Nhawrr yirrpa
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Death of the rainman _
Death of the rainman _
