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