VAN DIEMEN'S LAND

Country, my country,
you tidal claim me and I am not alone;
earth leached into bones,
my soil heart sings you. I am all rock
because of you, all wave tug rugged lost in you;
far from you, never apart from you,
country my country.
I see flame light across the waters, flickering
grief across the waters: black sentinel all still;
wife killed by a butcher's knife; tribe bled
close to nothing. What have we done,
o what have we done,
country, my country?
Mountain speaks, river speaks, highlands
murmur down through valleys deep;
the crest fall wonder beckons still
and years cannot beat gravity,
country, my country.
Sing islands, sing rivers, sing choir gums,
rain splattered crowd of watchers sing
the wisdom claim that stakes your full possession.
Country, my country,
still in the deep root heart of me,
the south wind brings the fury of the world
and I am lost without you.