A river in the Never-Never . . .

When one does travel in the Northern Territory be aware of the dangers that one faces

country side is fast, facsinating, old yet new, distances long, lonely between places

there's guidelines to adhere to, permits needed to travel across Aboriginal land

to be self-sufficient in whatever traveling you do, help is far away, not readily at hand

At height of dry season rivers and creeks are like a reminder, now a ribbon of dust

at Mataranka, water bubbles up from underground, believing in miracles one must

from all this water in lillypad covered ponds, the mighty Roper River springs

setting of on a long journey to sea through parched landscape, vegetation clings

There is always abundant bird and fish life, sustaining Aboriginal Tribes over ages

fish being speared in shallows or caught in man-made fish traps on shore, cages

fresh salt water crocodiles always present, dangerous ones to human life causing threat

Barramundi, Mudcrabs spawning commercial industry, recreational fishing to be had

There are Sacred sites along the rivers, left-over from trade routes to the coast

one of those is Ruined City, of fantastic rock formations proudly does it boast

the Macassans, from Indonesia, local Aboriginal Tribes, bartered stone tools for salt

coming of white-man, who massacred many Aboriginals, all this came to halt

Tall Pandanus and Paperbark Trees, providing shade in many a beautiful picnic spot

morning chorus of birds, pristine swimming holes, really magic when it is so darn hot

many spectacular waterfalls along Rope River, some pioneers buried too in this land

Roper River winding its way, watering thirsty land at end disappearing in coastal sand