Hiking the Jatbula Trail - a poem by Madonna

by Madonna

As the story goes in the most recent of times

A flock of fabulous birds flew into Darwin led by one amazingly colourful cockatoo

Diamond Coach Clare

There they meet a couple of adventurous young galahs

Who filled their hearts and minds of stories of long ago

Come with us to Nikmiluk and walk the Jatbula trail

We’ll walk along song lines of the Jawoyn, the first peoples’ of this ancient land

Basking in their stories recorded in stone

We’ll follow the waters that flow through the heart of this country

And gather at dusk to listen to their songs

So off they set their dilly bags full

And their feet in sturdy shoes

For 6 days they walked this rugged land

Over Rocks, through water, up and down

Along flat sandy land, smelling of buffalo

Dotted with majestic termite mounds and Kock trees

Resting each night by a billabong

Where they dunked their feathers and shed their sturdy shoes

Alas, the time had come to bid farewell to this sacred place

And to those two wonderfully awesome galahs

With hearts full of gratitude and respect

And overwhelming joy

They thanked the Jaywon people for the privilege of walking on their sacred land

Off they flew in all different directions

Returning to their homes

I am told that these fabulous birds

Never forgot their time in Nitmiluk

Of friendships made

And a desire to see more of this amazing land