THOM THE WORLD POET: The Daily Poem

Rob Ayling writes: 

"Thom the World poet, is an old mate of mine from way back in my history. Even pre-dating Voiceprint, when I was running "Otter Songs" and Tom's poetry tapes and guest appearences with Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Mother Gong are well known and highly regarded. It just felt right to include a daily poem from Thom on our Gonzo blog and when I approached him to do so, he replied with in seconds!!! Thom is a great talent and just wants to spread poetry, light and positive energy across the globe. If we at Gonzo can help him do that - why not? why not indeed!!" (The wondrous poetpic is by Jack McCabe, who I hope forgives me for scribbling all over it with Photoshop)

TERRA NULLIUS

no evidence of habitation-no ruins of buildings,castles,walls

no romantic Rousseau fictions of "noble savages"

just land,trees,swamps,shadows.And the colors were strange

When we saw primitive people(they had few clothes or possessions)

they spoke in different dialects.They were loud,playful,childish.

Sometimes,we clashed./Misunderstandings .Different values.Deaths occurred.
Skirmishes.Massacres.Slavery.Chains.Settlements.This happened everywhere
Waves of us swamped those who dreamed they had roots in this soil
We toiled /crashing tall trees,digging holes/finding precious metals
Shadows became thin spears.Guns barked back-and disease.
Those who survived were half-us,lost between stories
Ours an introduced species/theirs indigenous
We only have ears for our songs.Long dreaming
becomes short stories/flash of gunfire friction.Sparks and fire.Burned alive.