I am this Land, I am my People
Image: Emma Donovan
I am this land, I am my people
This is what I hold true,
I’ve written words with tunes I’ve dreamt
and sung them all for you
Australia, an untouched virgin once,
Bona fide, organic and pure.
A mineral chest of abundant treasure,
environmental grandeur.
We knew of this beauty a long time ago
made love to her day and night.
By drawing our dreams and history on her,
decorating her with our Light.
We roamed the length, the breadth of this land,
our children, and children ‘on.’
Until one day, there came a change -
original purity gone.
Different perspective. Adaptation.
Laws from the Convict Mob,
To Stolen Generation.
“Who am I?” he asked,
Who are you?
Savage what’s your name?
Your truth’s not true.
Their struggle, a struggle
descended to me.
A birthright unwanted by my family.
But lucky we are to survive this long,
The Original Dwellers,
Children of the Wronged.
I was raised in sound that make ears soft,
right from the womb,
to my first cough.
Connected to a genetic choir.
Voices of water.
Souls of fire.
I stood as ‘I’, I stood as ‘You’
when I first made the stage.
Times were different way back then,
Raw talent in those days.
I sang because I could, I would,
my voice didn’t need a vote,
Music back then survived on dreams,
made on love and hope.
Sydney 2000, she lifted the torch
with pride, she started the Games
2004, I sang to help
the Olympic Flame on it’s way.
I’ve made the albums,
I’ve Won at Deadly’s
and sung for crowds galore.
I’ve travelled to sing with Sisters of Nations
from land, to sea, to shore.
My blessed journey, a walkabout it’s been,
my gift has seen me fly.
But connecting to land and people -
‘I am you are you are ‘I’.
I gather with women, we make a stand,
each year we unite to speak,
it’s here we see the progression of our peoples history.
I stand by these distinguished black women
our spirits connected with pride.
Our ancestors look down lovingly on us,
encouraging us from behind.
I’m one with all, one with our Mother,
the Land, she gives us growth.
Take care of her, so children ‘on’
will live to ‘see and know’.
Ngarraanga
Ngiinundi
Yuludarra
My love extended to you.
‘Remember Your Dreaming’ is what that means
Remember that is your Truth.
I am this land, I am my people
This is what I hold true
Ngarraanga Nigiinundi Yuludarra
You are me and I am You.
For more information on Emma Donovan, please visit www.emmadonovan.com
