Takayna; Milaythina Ningi
By Theresa Sainty
Published 31 August 2024
TAKAYNA; MILAYTHINA NINGI
(Takayna; Mother Country)
Nara Takayna; ngini paywuta
Wurangkili mulapana-nara nuritinga tunapri
Ningi Panupiri & Nunga Withi;
(of) Pumpina; Nara ningina patrula waranta-tu;
(of) Lana wurangkili-ti;
She is Takayna; as old as time itself
Her dark skies carry the knowledges of
Mother Sun & Father Moon; of Pumpina
who gave us fire. Of Stingray in the Sky.
Nara Takayna; Milaythina paliti rrala
Tunapri Takariliya Ngini makara manina-ti
Mungalina-ti, makuminya truwala-ti nara takara,
Pungkatina-ti, milaythina mungalina-ti
Minanya, muka + wurangkili -ti. Paywuta.
She is Takayna; Strong Spirit Country
The memory of her Old Families infused in the earth, in the rains, the mountain tracks on which they walked; in the scrub and rain country;
In the rivers, seas and skies. Forever
Nara kani Takayna
Milaythina Pakana taymi ningina raytji warr!
Nara waranta; waranta nara
Nara Kani Takayna; Milaythina Ningi
She is called Takayna
Unceded Pakana Land
She is us, and we her.
She is Takayna. Mother Country
(Takayna; Mother Country)
Nara Takayna; ngini paywuta
Wurangkili mulapana-nara nuritinga tunapri
Ningi Panupiri & Nunga Withi;
(of) Pumpina; Nara ningina patrula waranta-tu;
(of) Lana wurangkili-ti;
She is Takayna; as old as time itself
Her dark skies carry the knowledges of
Mother Sun & Father Moon; of Pumpina
who gave us fire. Of Stingray in the Sky.
Nara Takayna; Milaythina paliti rrala
Tunapri Takariliya Ngini makara manina-ti
Mungalina-ti, makuminya truwala-ti nara takara,
Pungkatina-ti, milaythina mungalina-ti
Minanya, muka + wurangkili -ti. Paywuta.
She is Takayna; Strong Spirit Country
The memory of her Old Families infused in the earth, in the rains, the mountain tracks on which they walked; in the scrub and rain country;
In the rivers, seas and skies. Forever
Nara kani Takayna
Milaythina Pakana taymi ningina raytji warr!
Nara waranta; waranta nara
Nara Kani Takayna; Milaythina Ningi
She is called Takayna
Unceded Pakana Land
She is us, and we her.
She is Takayna. Mother Country
Thinking about pathways, write something about the Milky Way as a pathway.
Theresa Violet Sainty
#30in30 writing prompt
The poem, Takayna: Mother Country, is written in my language, palawa kani, and translated to English. Like all (or most) of what I write, it is an ‘ode’ to Country and her Old People (who are no longer here). It is a statement for Country; on behalf of her.
Theresa Violet Sainty
#30in30 #PoetryMonth #RedRoomPoetry #Fellowship
