Muru Nanga Mai (Dreaming Track)
By Lorna Munro
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
----------
mangroves tell stories,
ngara listen
to the leaves
branches for warrangan
time lives in these trees
diramu tree
----------
crow feathers
leave behind
an echo
that still binds
waru
wugan raven
-----------
baragula flood tide
bangala bark tied
water cannot be imprisoned
coolamon still tries
badoburra tidal inundation
----------
barabung dew
spider webs
of silver light
marareen weaving spiders
----------
yaxa crab
chords, seeds
pneumatophores
lungs
breathe
in and out
ngayama breathe
stream signifies
a body
garaga a mouth
naba blood
----------
saltmarsh
mullet
magari fishing time
maugro fish
burramatta
where eels
congregate
parra eel keeper of the rivers
----------
casuarina mother tree
watches over time
dahl’wah listen for the old women