#179 - know your country

29.6.20

179

know your country

coming after Kerri Shying

名可名，非常名

read me the ways cannot be told

first up to where we are

(from here and everywhere)

anyone happens in a skin

who told the differences

can’t help

here’s where we happen to

how we’ve come

doomed

or let’s decide to be

first person plural of another tongue

touch

and that’s this me too

                                        

sing out!

all over the shop

and wide brown

bullshit divining the minerals under

goldmine on which we sit

you’d like a word to mean one thing

but that’s not how it works

tell me again

that’s why we’re here

may I know what has been taken?

how can that country still be there?

tell me the names

though the language is lost

and so many creatures

and seasons

see the skill in the stone

and who cast the stars?

over the white-sliced homestead

who fenced the cloven hoof in here?

still it’s love to listen

have a heart

must I not untribe to see?

then who would be me?

come back to place

other ages are in it

what’s more precious than…

the questions

the questions

I call them the under-country

and come to the end of a spear

stolen!

why would you do that?

take a picture and gone?

this is the country you drag through court

bugs the other’s cabinet room

to get the greedy oil

and throw truth out

that’s my right or wrong

salute

take your tableaux

take a bow

be a statue for the country

same old

complicated story

who is it wishing me out of the world?

someone was living in the river once

dust

and the river ran along

but time was here a long way before us

came the clock and pants

trees before people!

keep finding new ways to pinch things

keep finding new things to pinch

and out of thin air

place of my gathering

always a kind of wherever-you-are

but someone was here before

if we belonged it would be different

of course I contradict myself

how else?

still want to be

the mirror in the land

and smoke the ill away

it worsens but we stay

read me the ways cannot be told

respect

for who was here

respect for those who know

country                                                                       

is a kind of club

the bright the dark return

consider the usurping king

whose prayers won’t rise

is your guilt in the right corner yet?

who’s no hypocrite?   show me!

you can cling to the least little raft

nobody ever walked here

call it country

among the series, is it?

nation – first, second, how many?

here’s the thumping state

all lovely in authority

still tribe if you ask me, well armed

and so much secret business

there was no asking was there though

facts are what we accomplish for

and no one will resile

apologize

which way to point your spiral?

here’s the rug out from under

a country of awkward aches and static

how strange the new arrivals

country

something to tell and proud

but please stop saying that word

shows off the chips on the shoulders

like warrior – what the fuck

nobody did that full time

because it was a better world

yes lost and we imagine from bones

and flesh them

say skirmish

say Treaty – make peace!

quit the black and white pretending

what did the Romans do for?

as if there were no gap

the punishments are still inflicted

evolved with careful spite

war’s in the heart

where the facts are denied

but the country can make a clean breast

and so yes there is a side to be on

doomed to be

or let’s stand up

native of

I call on Gondwana, be my witness

all in it together

who’s for the fires till the forest is gone?

who ran the river away?

 I blame, I do

it’s necessary

country wouldn’t know you from Adam

have to coax it back

remember me

once had a skin

so kin

walk with me won’t you?

thin shaky ledge

country of truth

and find it as you fall

I come from my own far story

not even mine to remember

and making it up as I go

important to you as yours to me

on it

in the DNA

and welcome home

a little lost

I know I’m not from here