Vonda Stanley's collection of early Australian bush poems

Namatjira

 

Aboriginal man, you walked with pride,

And painted with joy the countryside.

Original man, your fame grew fast,

Men pointed you out as you went pst.

 

But vain the honour and tributes paid

For you strangled in rules the white man made:

You broke no law of your own wild clan 

Which says, "share all with your fellow-man."


What did their loud acclaim avail

Who gave you honour, then gave you jail?

Namatjira, they boomed your art,

They called you genius, then broke your heart.

 

Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker)

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