Eulogy for a Black Man

Native title is not Land Rights and Reconciliation is not Justice
– Gary Foley at Sam Watson’s funeral.

revisiting childhood through that time-gauze of greying
feather,
back to a time
when the road seemed wider
but had the same volume of insanity

Dad always concrete at the wheel
Mum in the “Worry” seat
sharing with Dad,
the worries sometimes reaching the backseat
as the sporadic vapours got too heavy
and did their backdraft thing
upon our small foreheads
breathing in the pockets of
blackness
yet, we ride
our little bodies fading into the upholstery

the rear-view mirror
keeping its eye on us


– Sam Wagan Watson, Back Road in Smoke Encrypted Whispers UQP 2004

We offer our condolences to Auntie Cath, Sam’s son, Sam Wagan and daughter, Nicole, to the Watson family and all his relatives, friends and to the aboriginal community generally for our great loss.… Go to Article