and the possibility of crocs
one measuring 4 meters made
its home under Nightcliff pier
still people play on the beach
and surf fish as if they are
immune or touched by the heat
the lure of cool blue water
being too much to resist
this city balances on a knife
humidity heat and commerce
make for an unstable mix
Europe and Asia colliding
and not always meeting
white fella law seeing itself
in an indigenous mirror
innocent or guilty without peers
there was the bombing during WWII
downplayed by national media
to avoid mass hysteria
left the city bitter
then Tracy came and almost
wiped it off the map
you can see the determination
in the eyes of those who survived
this city is at war with itself
beneath the wealth dwells a fear
both colours trapped in a dance
that will scar the landscape
gouge mountainous dreamtime furrows
carve new and dangerous estuaries
where the barramundi will die
and the great spirits decide
who has the right to dwell here.
© shaun patrick green 2012
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