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 appearances 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)

WHITE IS NOT A COLOUR

Sleeping land.Indigenous languages.Dreamtime stories.Ancestors

Some ships.A few strangers.Camped and shot.Claimed to own

Came to dominate and possess.Claimed "naming"rights.

Superimposed lines and fought to kill/native species

Brought in their own as cattle ,farms and slaves

Whip,gun,horse,dray,fences,laws,jails,schools.

Demanded we stay under a foreign flag

This was ours in custody before all flags

We knew the stories/songlines/waterholes

flora/fauna/histories.We were of this land

for centuries /aeons.Foreign hands still claim this Nation

They speak paper,contracts,treaties,walls,guns,fear

We shrink from these poor stories/withdraw from here

Only when the land can sing with/to/for and because of us

will there be peace.These are languages.Read them in the trees.