the sickness country

we mine the earth, dance the wire
throw to the wind the seeds of fire:

kakadu dream bull-frog uranium mines
eye-sores black smiles corporate boxes
sharp claws spiked hands cadmium steel
unearth clay hornets nest of the core

in our own backyard…



we raze the earth, expose the wire
caution the wind, exchange the fire:

maralinga ghost-troops hospital green
naked truth uniform mind eyes burning light
red earth dead bed witnesses of wheelchair truths
conceived by blasted bull-dogs exploded to zero

in our own backyard…

we blacken the earth, handle the wire
shocked to the wall by our greed for fire

over the harbour the millenium explodes
dark clouds billow beyond the pale soft pillow homes
homeless gaze up at ash shadows fifty dollar notes burn
as we turn our eyes away from the sickness country

in our own backyard…