Two Train Singers

In the few short weeks between 20 Feb 2010 and 2 May 2010  7 people died in custody in Australia . Nearly one person for every week. This poem is dedicated to those people and to Uncle Sam Watson who fought for justice denied.

My condolences go out to their Mum’s and Dad’s, sisters, brothers, aunties, uncles and cousins.

Wise men say only fools rush in
What are we to do
When we see
Two fellas busking on Ipswich line
One fella black, other white
Now one RIP

Just listen to what these young fellas sing
When they see a pretty woman
getting off the train at Milton
‘Like, like, like a rainbow
Down, down, down to the sea’
‘Some, some, somethings are meant to be
Take my hand, take my whole life too
If I can’t help falling in love with you’
Little did they know it might turn out so
One fella black, other white
But now one RIP

Brother Sam sits on back of station wagon
On his mobile after Murri Flag rally
‘What’s up Sam?’ says I
“My nephew just died
He was in Arthur Gorrie”
“Sorry Sam” says brother Alf
But I am speechless
“They just don’t care” says Sam
A tear in his eye
“Another funeral more Sorry Business”

A few weeks later
Sister Nicole outside parliament said
‘This poor young fella’s dead
Every single death always
Gets swept under the carpet
What do we have to do to stop this?
Because that is a life
What value do you place on our lives?’

Some things are not meant to be
So please please do not take my land
Always was, always will be
And do not take my whole life too
Like Hurley did Mulrunji
Like a river flows so surely to the sea

Poor fella’s mother Donna told the journos
I am here today for my son
But next morning
‘Heroin addict’ the papers cried
‘Hopeless, that is why he died’
And the coroner agreed
Tear out that page,
‘Cos all I can see

Are two train singers
Busking on Ipswich line
One black, other white
But now one R.I.P

A life flows like a river Darling,
Down goes another Murri
Wise men say only fools rush in
So how do we respond to this death
Especially if, only one fella’s left

Remember Lyji Vaggs, Sheldon Currie, Eddie Ward, Mulrunji Doomadgee, TJ Hickey, Daniel Yock, John Pat.

Ian Curr
May 2010

The Two Train singers singing “Can’t help falling in love“]