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