Richard Jungala King

The Other Australians When you travel through this dry and forbidding land From the oceans edge to the dry desert sand Though the signs of life are seldom seen Their tracks will tell you where they have been. Hidden in the depths and beneath the desert sand Are the creatures that live in this ancient land They hide from the heat of the hot desert day And wait for the night to come out and play. But if you listen and learn what the old people say You will always have food as you go on your way They will hunt in the evenings when the day is getting cool They wait near the edge of a deserts rock pool. They hide in the shadows and stay out of sight And pick the target when the timing is right They take what they need and never take more And leave the others for when the hunting is poor. Richard Jungala King August 2002