Black Swans – By By Sita Selvadurai
Source:- Dæhæna Newsletter
With feathers black, and reddish beak,
The black swans float along,
I came across hordes of them,
At an outback’s billabong.
Colonies swam with their heads held high
Without fear of hunters coming nigh.
This sight was the only reason for
My happiness as the swans I saw.
They swam about the water’s edge,
With elegant and stately grace;
You could not count how many were
Crowded in such a small space.
Native to our land this bird,
By many have not been seen or heard.
Oh! look for such a sight profound,
Will not be found the world around.
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By Sita Selvadurai
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Sita Selvadurai (1934-2006) was born in Sri Lanka and migrated to Australia later in her life. She was a short story writer and published two books. Her collection of short stories titled “Obatala’s Blessing and Other Stories” was based on her experiences in Nigeria. She took up poetry writing after coming to Australia in the early 1990s.
About this poem
On black swans that are native to Australia. According to an Aboriginal story, the black swan, known as Guunyu, was originally a beautiful white swan. Guunyu was attacked by other birds who were jealous of his beauty. They scratched him, pulled out his feathers, and left him to die. An old black crow saw what happened and comforted Guunyu, giving him his black feathers.
