Karijini

Carefully climbing down the steeping rock stairs, Surface so slippery I must walk with care, The sun reflects off the side of the gorge, Native art works in rocks, they are forged, The landscape unique just like a canyon, The quolls and the wallabies, my only companions, Birds soar high above the rough terrain, Land so desolate, you barely see rain, Colours so vibrant, red, green and blue, Now I am crawling on all fours just to get through, No one to rescue if you fall, Heartbeat accelerating, is it worth it at all,

A sacred land so pristine and pure, Traditional owners must protect its allure, Millions of years spent in its creation, Protecting this beauty is mankind’s obligation, Forged by a giant serpent when the Earth was young, It’s spirit rest in the waters, in which it had clung,

Glimpses of lush I can see from beyond, Nearing the end of the path that I am on, Swaying with the wind, the scrub rustles gently, Ever so calm, as if it could sense me, Following my instincts, I pursue the passage, Not knowing where it goes, I’m unaware of all the facets,

Emerging from the rocks, the sunlight shimmers, I can just see the water, as it speckles and glimmers, Astonished by the sight of what I have just found, The pools and the waterfalls, like emeralds all around, Sounds of trickling water disturb the silence, The water, and it’s flow form nature’s alliance,

As I approach the ledge I glance at the pool, Small fish, quickly approaching in a school, Sliding off my shoes, I begin to enter the basin, Many have followed my path throughout the generations, I stare forwards, towards the gleaming falls, Australia’s holy little gem, hidden amongst rock walls.

By Jacob Skender (Year 8)