ENCORE PERFORMANCE….

 

    David Gulpilil

                                                        Aboriginal Stockman

(Poems, sketches and acrylic painting by me)

 

I’ve posted these poems, the painting and the sketches previously, but decided to do so again.

 

My inspiration for this post is the sad passing of David Gulpilil, the pioneering Australian Indigenous actor, dancer, singer and artist who, at the age of 68 years,  passed away on 29^th November, 2021.

To quote Wikipedia….

Quote:   “David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu AM (c.1953 – 29 November 2021), known professionally as David Gulpilil and posthumously for cultural reasons as David Dalaithngu for three days, was an Australian actor and dancer, known for the films “Walkabout”, “Storm Boy”, “Rabbit-Proof Fence”, “Crocodile Dundee”, “The Tracker”, and others.

David was an Aboriginal Australian of the Yolngu people who was raised in a traditional lifestyle in Arnhem Land in northern Australia, and was a skilled dancer as a young man when British director Nicolas Roeg recognised his talent….”   End Quote

 

David Gulpilil Dalaithngu held his head high, and was respected far and wide.  Our nation pays tribute to him.

 

The Stockman

The stockman's face glistens under the torrid outback sun
Weather-beaten wiry and worn his teeth tobacco stained
Alone he rode o'er the dusty dry land his day never done
His love of the vast brown land remains forever ingrained

Parched by day the unforgiving copper luminary beyond
Unrelenting in its punishment upon all that wander below
As if obeying the devil's command eagerly it does respond
Silence is broken by bellowing cattle and the call of a crow

Outback Track

He wandered along an outback track unknown
With his swag and billy he wandered alone
Sun-bleached hair skin of leather lean and robust
Sheltering his eyes from the swirling red dust

Through a shimmering haze he spotted a dry creek
As nightfall drew close the outcome looked bleak
Taking long strides determinedly he pushed on
Until he spied dancing brolgas beside a billabong

 

Impatient sun rises o’er far horizon a new day dawns

The lone swagman stokes his campfire stretches yawns

His destination lies at the end of a meandering track ahead

What’s waiting there fills him with pain sorrow and dread