Frankland
Bunjil Prayer
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