Thursday, December 06, 2007

 

The Wet Season


I'm looking down over the Kimberley on my last flight to Ngallagunda. Its starting to rain here, and the dry, sere, brown country has turned a deep silvery green. The gorges gleam reflected blue and green as deep pools fill. Our pilot jinks our little dragonfly of a plane between fluffy cumuli now, as Jesus rays stream down through the morning cloud layers.

The Kimberley, at the end of the earth, collects the flotsam and jetsam of humanity, washed up on the huge tides. The radio station here, 6DBY is no exception, playing the most eclectic collection of tunes I've ever heard. When was the last time you heard Rod McKuen or Woody Guthrie on daytime radio? I listen to the National Indigenous News and a hokey, country Christmas song about Santa in a pickup.

But this morning, as occasionally happens to all of us, I'm sure; they play a song that fits my mood and thoughts perfectly. I haven't heard this in probably 25 years, but the perfect harmonies of this old Crosby, Stills and Nash song resonate in my soul, as we prepare to leave. I hear, for the first time, the message: about taking chances; about living in the moment; about taking a deep breath, and as the Quechua believe, looking forward into the past as we walk backwards into the future.

Look around me
I can see my life before me
Running rings around the way
It used to be

I am older now
I have more than what I wanted
But I wish that I had started
Long before I did

[Chorus]
And there's so much time to make up
Everywhere you turn
Time we have wasted on the way
So much water moving
Underneath the bridge
Let the water come and carry us away

Oh when you were young
Did you question all the answers
Did you envy all the dancers
Who had all the nerve
Look round you know
You must go for what you wanted
Look at all my friends who did and got what they deserved

And there's so much time to make up
Everywhere you turn
Time we have wasted on the way
So much water moving
Underneath the bridge
Let the water come and carry us away

And there's so much love to make up
Everywhere you turn
Love we have wasted on the way
So much water moving
Underneath the bridge
Let the water come and carry us away
Let the water come and carry us away

-Wasted on the Way, Crosby Stills Nash (and Young)


# posted by Charles @ 6:39 AM
Comments:
A very interesting life you have, Charles. I am interested in your Kimberley experiences. I lived in Derby in the early 1980's and assisted the Aboriginal people to leave Mt House and Tableland stations and begin their own communities at Imintji and Tirralintji. Spent four years doing this. Have been back often but not out to Tirralintji - storms over the black soil stopped me last year and this year. I do see the people in town though Sammy and Betty Walker, Wallace and Barbara Midmee. Old Mick Jalgan and Jock Nowangee. Went to Imintji, Mt House and Barnettt two months ago. I have many photos from the 1980's and the people want me to tell the story of those times. Am putting them together in a slideshow style documentary. I notice you have some aerial shots of Yulumbu. I would love to have some photos to include. I now live in the Blue Mountains near Sydney. You can email at this address. Love to hear more also - regards Rein van de Ruit
# posted by Blogger Rein : 6:33 PM
 
Rein you'll have to put your email address on your blogger profile so I may respond. CJZ
# posted by Blogger Charles : 4:05 AM
 
Post a Comment



<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?