Understand Old One by Oodgeroo Noonuccal

Understand Old One
c. 1966

What if you came back now
To our new world, the city roaring
There on the old peaceful camping place
Of your red fires along the quiet water,
How you would wonder
At towering stone gunyas high in air
Immense, incredible;
Planes in the sky over, swarms of cars
Like things frantic in flight

Oodgeroo Noonuccal
Born: 3 November 1920, North Stradbroke Island, Australia
Nationality: Australian Aboriginal
Died: 16 September 1993, Brisbane, Australia

Oodgeroo Noonuccal was a political activist, artist, and educator. She is best known for campaigning for Aboriginal rights and her poetry. She was the first Aboriginal Australian to publish a book of verse