ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

LEGEND OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS .. Maureen Clifford ©

Three simple souls in the heart of the dead land
suspended in a moment of time
created by Baiame the Sky King.
Dissension. One leaves –
weakened by hunger and thirst he walks
across the coolabah plains
towards where the river once ran.

Beneath the outstretched stark white branches of the yaraan
he falls and lays. Life has passed.
The spirit tree has captured it's victim -
its two fiery eyes glow triumphantly.
With a crash of thunder the spirit tree moves
beginning it's southward journey.

Raucous Mooyi follows – screeching 'Stop. Stop.”
but the spirit tree continues on its journey
with the hollow man.
The spirit tree ends its journey at Warrambool
the home of the Sky Gods and Yowi
the spirit of death.

Yaraan Doo glows brightly. Nightly, in the Southern sky,
watching over the vast dry land of Australia,
four brilliant glittering stars -
the eyes of Yowi and the hollow man
the first man to die.
And still, to this day
Mooyi screeches.


*
Yaaran - Eucalyptus tree/Gum - the sky being held up by wooden poles or living trees
Yaaraon Doo - the place of the white gum tree
Mooyi - white cockatoo

Maureen, this is very evocative. You should enter it in the HL (Vic) Awards free verse section - their theme is "Our Australian Heritage" and it is very appropriate! Entry details are on the Events and Results page.