Delta40
01-17-2011, 09:57 AM
Boornyarri told old people
that he had a dream
about a big spirit.
No more dreams, they said
we are happy as we are.
'But the Waakal is going to flood this place'
Boornyarri cried as people turned away
'the water will come and wash
all of this away. There will be
nothing left'
Waakal the carpet snake
heard the old people talking
and smiled.
He told Boornyarri that the people
were like koomdan, shame.
Children and elders were affected
by drinking and bad things.
'Boornyarri,' said Waakal
'I am sending a big water.
So big it will cover this budja
this land' Some people won't go
but I know the law of the land'
Then the water came down
At first it came down so that the old people
didn't have as far to walk for water.
They laughed at Boornyarri.
'You mob need to listen to me -
it's important'
No, they said. 'It's good to have water
so near to us.'
The water rose higher and higher
The camps started to wash away.
Old people and children were scared
and looked for Boornyarri.
At first, they could not see him.
Then Waakal slithered through the water
carrying Boornyarri on his back
People jumped across rocks
trying to catch Waakals back
but most slid off and sank in the water.
Waakal slithered around in circles
mixing sand with water.
'Don't get off my back Boornyarri'
Finally, the water subsided
from the mixing of land and water
Boornyarri hopped onto a rock
with the few people who held
onto Waakal while he swirled
across the land and made rivers.
When he was done he told them
'I will never cause a flood again'
Boornyarri and the others
waved from the rock
as Waakal went to his Ngoondiny -
the sleeping place of the Waakal
that he had a dream
about a big spirit.
No more dreams, they said
we are happy as we are.
'But the Waakal is going to flood this place'
Boornyarri cried as people turned away
'the water will come and wash
all of this away. There will be
nothing left'
Waakal the carpet snake
heard the old people talking
and smiled.
He told Boornyarri that the people
were like koomdan, shame.
Children and elders were affected
by drinking and bad things.
'Boornyarri,' said Waakal
'I am sending a big water.
So big it will cover this budja
this land' Some people won't go
but I know the law of the land'
Then the water came down
At first it came down so that the old people
didn't have as far to walk for water.
They laughed at Boornyarri.
'You mob need to listen to me -
it's important'
No, they said. 'It's good to have water
so near to us.'
The water rose higher and higher
The camps started to wash away.
Old people and children were scared
and looked for Boornyarri.
At first, they could not see him.
Then Waakal slithered through the water
carrying Boornyarri on his back
People jumped across rocks
trying to catch Waakals back
but most slid off and sank in the water.
Waakal slithered around in circles
mixing sand with water.
'Don't get off my back Boornyarri'
Finally, the water subsided
from the mixing of land and water
Boornyarri hopped onto a rock
with the few people who held
onto Waakal while he swirled
across the land and made rivers.
When he was done he told them
'I will never cause a flood again'
Boornyarri and the others
waved from the rock
as Waakal went to his Ngoondiny -
the sleeping place of the Waakal