Frankland

2010

Punjil

I’m not sure if I ever took the time to pray to you

Guess I was too busy fighting for the people

I seem to recall I might have said some words

When I was somehow somewhere scared or hurt

Or perhaps when I seen something so beautiful

Like golden sunlight on a eucalypt at dawn or dusk

Or my children’s smile or first walk or words

Or the love in a mothers eyes

I know you got me through some of the tougher times

Like when I’d seen too much death and despair

And I know you picked me up those times when I fell

Or when I found myself inside the gates of hell

And I’m grateful

For those times

And I’m humble

In your light

For I am a man of the land

When you showed me the world through a mother’s tears

I was small in myself and in my fear

When you guided me when I gave eulogies

Of fellow warriors who’d fallen for our people

When you whispered to me with the southern winds

Or sent me tears called raindrops from the sky

When the golden sun warmed me when my heart was tired Punjil so glad that you gave me this way

And I’m grateful

For those times

And I’m humble

In your light

For I am a man of the land

Now grey has touched my hair

And in the universe I am small

Yet you tell me how I walk

Is important to one and all

And I must find a way

To treat all equal you say

Even those that bought teardrops

To our shore

And I’m grateful

For those times

And I’m humble

In your light

For I am a man of the land

And I am grateful

For these children

For these children of the land