Muru Nanga Mai (Dreaming Track)

Bulima Spirit Land D'harawal interpretations by Shannon Foster

muru nanga mai
badu ngura water country

ngadyung gurad water country

swamplands
forever tide

biddigalo daragun bitter water course 

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mangroves tell stories,
ngara listen
to the leaves

branches for warrangan
time lives in these trees

diramu tree

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crow feathers
leave behind
an echo
that still binds
waru

wugan raven

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baragula flood tide
bangala bark tied
water cannot be imprisoned
coolamon still tries

badoburra tidal inundation

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barabung dew
spider webs
of silver light

marareen weaving spiders

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yaxa crab
chords, seeds
pneumatophores
lungs
breathe
in and out

ngayama breathe

stream signifies
a body
garaga a mouth

naba blood

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saltmarsh
mullet
magari fishing time

maugro fish

burramatta
where eels
congregate

parra eel keeper of the rivers

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casuarina mother tree
watches over time

dahl’wah listen for the old women