Ngapigan (Grandmother)

    ~ poem written in Gathang, interpretations by Aunty Rhonda 

Gathang

Ngapigan Djuyal 

      buyiba watiga 

      nyaaga murapan 

      nyutja bathu 

      numa barray 

      ngarrangga guying-gambal 

      mungga wirray 

Ngapigan Ngapigan 

      wanay gili-wakulda buba.yangbu gagiliyn

      gunun.bang maayn.gilgaray

      gindalan.garay

      mirriiyn bitaraliyn djukal butjungga yurraga

Ngapigan Ngapiganbaa

      girrang biyan.guwa

      girrang nyun.guwa.

English 

Grandmother Talk

       breath in the tree

       see the flowers

       taste the water

       feel the land

       listen to the birdsong

       smell the bush

Grandmother/Granddaughter

        a baby awakening to the first light

        old ways with a loving embrace

        the star shining brightly in the night sky

Grandmother/Granddaughter Space

        lives within you 

        as you live within her.