My Dreaming of Our Natural Unity

I gave this poem to an indigenous man I’d known for a while, I actually gave a 118 year old leaf as my own peace treaty. I have stood around sacred fires and said ‘sorry’ as a feeling of empathy for indigenous people and the realisation of how displaced and dislocated they became as a result of european occupation of their country. I remember a childhood friend who was indigenous, she was my first experience of indigenous Australians, lovely girl.

My love for all people has no barrier, as I am human, they are human, I really don’t feel them and us. As a clown I am freer to just hug people. I remember at a political rally going up to an indigenous elder later and giving her a hug, they loved the clown, it was so nice to see I could step across cultural barriers so easily. In a remote community, as a clown, I looked into their beautiful eyes and felt peace.

So this poem is dedicated to all indigenous people, be patient with the anglo-europeans as they have forgotten the ancient root of the tree from which we all belong. Many indigenous are forgetting, however there is a wise saying which says you have to go through what you are not to find who you are. I see this as happening worldwide. For all the problems happening in indigenous communities, they are happening in the ango/dominant culture as well. We will eventually find we are a leaf out of the same book of life and will return to the root. That is not too far away.

Enjoy life, every moment. We come from the same source, we are not so different. We are each other’s brothers and sisters, be kind and loving and forgive ignorance, we will all arrive together.

This poem reflects my dreaming.

ANCESTRAL LEAVES

The powerful indigenous mantra,
Is identity with country,
With land,
With nature,
With spirit,
For to walk and leave a small footprint,
Is the greatest testimony to peace,
And the encyclopaedia of knowledge
Within bush wisdom,
Pre-serves the environmental movement,
For each can hold hands and learn,
And remember,
That we are all one land,
One people,
One heart.

For that can be seen clearly,
For we are the tree of humanity,
And you and I are one leaf,
For each of us can give shade or cast a shadow,
I am choosing to share,
I am choosing to care,
For I respect diversity and embrace difference,
Within unity,
As friends,
As family.

This leaf is 118 years old,
And I give it to you as a peace treaty,
As a peace offering,
For I can say sorry as I feel the pain,
But really I want to say go for it,
Leave the past behind,
Await the leaf to drop to the ground,
For when it is ripe all will be forgiven,
For our greatest power is truth,
In reconciliation,
In affiliation,
In participation,
For our world is great because of you.

I will leave you with these ideas,
For our true nature is harmony & cooperation,
Sharing and goodwill to all,
For the rainbow serpent is all colours,
Mixed together becomes white light,
And that is my dreaming,
For each peace leaves an imprint on the earth,
For the ancestors leave wisdom around the sacred fire,
To reflect and remember our sacred pact.