Poems

Gumbaynggirr

Gumbaynggirr by Travis Blair

Close this Cover of Aboriginal Culture Essentials

Wishing you knew more about Aboriginal culture? Search no more.

Get key foundational knowledge about Aboriginal culture in a fun and engaging way.

This is no ordinary resource: It includes a fictional story, quizzes, crosswords and even a treasure hunt.

Stop feeling bad about not knowing. Make it fun to know better.

Sold! Show me how No, thank you

“Gather round me children
There’s a story I’ll tell you,
A story about our heritage
A place where we go for a chew.
 
This place once looked so different
Mangrove trees and river gums,
An abundance of fishing 
I encouraged friends to come.
 
We’d go fishing for Flathead
With our bottle lines and dough
Trying our skills not to tangle
Our lines but we’d have a go.
 
As we fished the sun shone
We shared our stories and dreams
Hoping our children would continue
Our tradition and what it means.
 
The white man thought it was better
Destroying my family’s sacred place
Removing all trees and making it a park
And calling it a “community space”.
 
How can it be a community space?
When the families have left
The place lonely and uninviting,
It hurts inside my chest.
 
How can my children learn about
Their culture and family?
The laws of survival, the Dreaming
And becoming more manly.
 
The white man they say “sorry” yet
I still feel sadness and sorrow
I have let down my ancestors
But yet we’ll still live with it tomorrow.
 
So listen carefully my children
Don’t be afraid to stand up and fight
Just like what “Eddie Mabo” did
So that all will be right.

Thank you Travis for sending in your poem!

Read another one?

Cite this page

Korff, J 2020, Gumbaynggirr, <https://stage.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/arts/poems/gumbaynggirr>, retrieved 8 December 2024

Creative Spirits is a starting point for everyone to learn about Aboriginal culture. Please use primary sources for academic work.

Join thousands of Smart Owls who know more!