Alf Taylor was born in Perth in the late 1940s. He spent his younger years with his family in Perth, then joined his brother in New Norcia Mission. Alf spent the rest of his childhood there. As a young man he worked around Perth and Geraldton as a seasonal farm worker. He then joined the Armed forces and was based at various locations around Australia. Alf then left the Armed Forces and went home. After a marriage, seven children (only two of whom survived), and a divorce, Alf Taylor found his voice as a writer and poet ... although it is a gift he believes he was born with.
William Shakespeare
Master of
Theatre
Master of
Words
Hamlet, Macbeth
Now
Romeo and
Juliet
A fluttering
Of
Angels wings
Of words
From above
Master genius
Of the
Pen
I wish
I was
Living
In your
Time
Then again
I wish
You were
Living
In mine.
In the name
Of
The father, Son
Holy Ghost
Amen
We the
Aborigine
Were here
Since Time
Began
Didgeriddo
Boomerang and
Spear
Will always
Be here
Long
Before you
JESUS
Did appear
Alone and so cold
That was
Way back then
Dampness of tears
Hurting his eyes
Thoughts
Of a child
As he
Dare not cry
For the touch
Of his mother’s
Hand
So far away
He couldn’t
Understand
Rules
Of justice
That separated
The Lad
From the touch
Of His mother’s
Hand
You are a cruel
Deadly moorditj yorgah
An’ um marrdong for you
But um
Just a wintjarren
Nyoongah man
But um gonna try
To get off
Diss gerbah an’ gunja
An’ be a cruel
Deadly moorditj nyoongah man
You are indeed
A truly deadly solid
Moorditj yorgah
An’ um
Jerrepjing something wicked
For you
But um
Just a wintjarren nyoongah man
Um gonna
Get off
Diss gerbah an gunja
An’ show you
What a moorditj man
I can be
An gib you
All da lub
Dat I can
But kurndarnj choo
Um shame
© 2007
Salt Publishing Limited 
