Upon Turtle�s Isle

Wax and wane of time and tide

Dance of moon and star

Make terrestrial mood and mode

Upon turtle�s isle

Shifted sand and ancient beast

Chance brood to hatch

With celestial guide and tide

Upon turtle�s isle

Ponderous lope and watery grace

Prance between berm and foam

Find ancestral reach of beach

Upon turtle�s isle

Instinct grim and mother strength

Glance with salty tear and sand

Past vestibule egg glide and hide

Upon turtle�s isle

Sandy womb and seven weeks

Lance tooth and shell

Reveal amniotal truth of turtle

Upon turtle�s isle

Starlit gaze and murderous hunt

Stance of Jabiru and heron

Mark ritual infanticide of sis and bro

Upon turtle�s isle

But young amass and risk reduce

Chance a few to breed

For ceremonial repeat of dig and lay

Upon turtle�s isle

Natator depressus and witness still

Trance of man and mother

In reverential grip of life on earth

Upon this turtle isle

By Andrew Raith (12/08/07).