dedicated to Kudnarto

I am an Old Spirit
 
Born to this new world
 
Taken from this place to die
 
Stripped and beaten
 
My land you claimed
 
and call your own
 


Old Spiriy
 
Red Earth
 


Narrung’-kaurna is my name
 
Yes I am an Old Spirit
 
Sporned today in this new form
 
Before I was here I slept in peace
 
Buried deep a seed
 
Inside my mother’s girth
 


Old Spirit
 
Red Earth
 


Ravaged and torn … weary and worn
 
She laboured in my birth
 
Then to her bosom I was drawn
 
Tenderly she suckled me
 


Old Spirit
 
Red Earth
 


Now I feel the pain
 
Fear, anxious upon the face appear
 
What was I born for; what must I die for?
 
I labour on where time stands still
 
Yet always I am born anew
 


Old Spirit
 
Red Earth
 


Silent in the night
 
My father gave his seed
 
To lie in wait
 
To germinate
 


Old Spirit
 
Red Earth
 


Out of the dust of these old bones I rise
 
My silence shattered, by the glaring neon light
 
In full circle I bear this child anew
 
Narrung’-kaurna her name.
 

 
My        home-to        towards come-PRES

Ngai bukkiana towilla
I        old / ancient spirit
Kurlanna parto yerta-ngga worni
New        big        land-in        was born
Ngaityo wodli-unangko manki madli-titya
My        home-from        took        die-in order to
             Turnki mari-appi, kunda-nanna
Clothes undress-CAUS beat-having
             Ngaityo yerta nindo manki
My        land        you+ERG took
Tarka-nanna ninko-andi
Call-having (it) yours-EXCL


Bukkiana towilla
Old / Ancient Spirit
Karko yerta
Red Ochre Earth


Narrung’-kaurna ngai narri
Narrung’-kaurna I name
Ne, ngai bukkiana towilla
Yes I        Old / Ancient Spirit
Natta yurlo-rendi kurlana-ni
Now        appear-REFL_PRES new-became
Bitti ngai budni ngai medotungki
Before I        arrived I        sound asleep
Wongatti yakki yitpi
Buried        deep        a seed
Trukkungga ngaityaii munto-ngga
Inside        my.mother-stomach-in


Bukkiana towilla
Old / Ancient Spirit
Karko yerta
Red Ochre Earth


Paltapaltari yarruri wirrani burtunna
Beaten / knocked around torn        weary worn out
Pa kathi budnatti ngaityo worni-ngga
She exhaustion arrived        my birth-in
Ngammi-anna ngai kuratti
Breast-to        I drew near / approached / touched
Naingu padlu ngai ngami nuinpi-pi-thi
Tenderly she+ERG me breast        suckle-CAUS-PAST.IMP


Bukkiana towilla
Old / Ancient Spirit
Karko yerta
Red Ochre Earth


Nata ngarntarrinth’ai
Now I am in pain
Wai yurlurrinthi, wiltirrkayinthi
Fear appear-REFL-PRES feeling frightened / anxious
             Nganaitya ngai warni? Nganaitya ngai padlu-ingku?
What for        I        born        What for        I        die-must
Ngai warpulayinthi tirntu-intyarlu yuwanthi
I        work / labour in time        standing still
Tudnu, ngai kurlana warniwarnithi
Always        I        new        born again and again


Bukkiana towilla
Old / Ancient Spirit
Karko yerta
Red Ochre Earth


Ngulthi-ngka warratina
Night-in        silent(=voice noise without)
Ngaityarli-rlu yitpi yungkithi
My.father-ERG seed would give
Wanti katpirri-titya
Lie        wait-to (i.e. to lie in wait)
Yitpi tarn-titya
Seed germinate-to


Bukkiana towilla
Old / Ancient Spirit
Karko yerta
Red Ochre Earth


             Murdu-nangku itu purtuna warpu ngai tarninthi
Dust-from these old / worn out bones I        rise
Kudlayurlu yartarrinthi kardlayirdi-rlu
Quiet / peace shattered        light-by
Kurruru munthu-ngka ngathu yaintya kurlana ngartu kangkanthi
Circle        stomach(i.e. full)-in I +ERG this        new child bring.forth
Narrung’-kaurna pa nari.
Narrung’-kaurna        she name.