In the Yugambeh there exist three genders: male, female, and a gender used specifically to refer to trees.


Twenty thousand moons shone here upon the People

and twenty thousand more before that

showed themselves crystal in the rushing streams

flanked with green lichened giants, beloved brothers

our other selves who have endured so much
Now the People are few here, and pale

white men came six seconds ago with their bibles and noise

the People left, bleeding

we left, torn from our mother’s arms to be made white
Our tallest selves on this mountain remain, strong and beautiful

Our tallest selves use the wind to speak, asking

Why are we lonely?

Where have our families gone?
Here, I answer, singing them a new song

jarjum yanbelillah mobo

the children of the People will return

goorie jinungilellah numinbah jagan mobo

your other selves will be standing alongside you again tomorrow

we will not cry long; we will not salt the earth of our grandmothers

be happy in your waiting Tall Ones

we are coming

we are coming

we are coming