Sydney Hymnal

They call it 'Sydney'
It's an injection point
A platform
The interface between that which is
and that which tries to be
A drop off point
But mostly a depot
The place where they thought they might make good
Where they said
'Praise white god almighty! All that land! We're rich!'
It's a casino
It's a town where bets are placed, apartments built and fortunes made
Where you can bet against the house,
Against people's houses,
And never lose
(I suppose you lose if you don't have a house though)
But ultimately It's Warrung
You'd better get used to that if you're going to stay
Always was and always will be

This is the place the ancestors themselves made
They're still here
They are this place
And long after all this glittering rubble cracks and falls over
(as some apartment blocks have already begun doing)
It will remain the same
It is timeless
A forever place

Real name Warrung doesn't perhaps 'look' Aboriginal
Then neither do I
But this is sacred Sovereign Aboriginal land, and,
I'm a sacred sovereign Aboriginal person

Oh and by the way we're in a lockdown right now
Because of a pandemic
Nothing like the one in 1789 that wiped out 90% of us mob
But at least this one they're taking seriously

And one last thing-if you breathe in
you might want to wear a mask.
Better-it's a $1000 fine.