Free Sister Heart by Sally Morgan Page B
Authors: Sally Morgan
away
Somewhere
behind the wind
at the back of the sea
is my country
But how do I get there?
Iâm on deck
searching waves for land
Reverend is on deck
searching waves for his straw hat
The wind tugged it from his head
and stole it away
No hat
thin white hair
heâll burn
if the sun shines hot
Hat bobs close
Sinks
Maybe the whale who swallowed Jonah
will eat it
Reverend talks, talks, talks
about Jonah and the whale
Jonah gave his soul
to God
then ran away
God sent the whale
to teach Jonah a lesson
The whale wasnât hungry or evil
It was just a messenger
So you see, itâs important
to do what God tells you
Will a whale swallow me
if I donât?
Clouds race
sky rolls
lightning flashes
thunder growls
wind shrieks
storm breaks
Our ship rises
shivers
falls
rises again
Reverend says
If the ship sinks
every precious soul on board
will be flung into the sea
The Devil is always ready
to do evil work
Pray with me, child!
My guts have their own storm
I spew instead
It is a long time
before sea calms
wind dies
rain fades
When we are allowed
on deck again
I stand below
a river of colour
diving over the ship
into the sea
Reverend squints at the sky
A man named Noah
built a ship
to escape a great flood
that destroyed the earth
That rainbow you see
is a sign of Godâs grace
a sign of hope
I gaze at the rainbow
If I could reach you
I say in my head
would you slide me home?
Sunrise sparks a dim sky
Sea birds swoop and call
Reverend smiles
Our journey is over
This is our last port of call
The storm is behind us
civilisation ahead
People fuss and scurry
Reverend finds a quiet spot
Iâm glad to sit down
I have something important to tell you
I have given you a new name
You are now called Anne
Do you like the name Anne?
I already have an english name
Lots of people on the station
have english names
Boss wonât say language names
but I have one
My language name
is the name Mum whispers
when Iâm sick
The name she croons
when she strokes my hair
I love my language name
Anne was the mother of the Virgin Mary
The Virgin Maryâs family was blessed by God
Anne is a name to be proud of!
Reverend reaches for my hand
I hide it behind my back
His face twitches
I mean you no harm, Anne
But he wonât let me go!
I am doing what is best for you
But he will keep me trapped
I hunch over
stare at the deck
He sighs
You are as stif-necked as Jonah!
When we leave the ship
donât run like Jonah did
A port is a dangerous place for a child
Iâm sorry the Church didnât claim you first
But you will be in my prayers
And donât worry
you wonât be alone
A government man
will meet us on the wharf
He will take you to a place
suitable for children like yourself
A new home awaits you, Anne
People rush about
Some talk loud
some laugh
some push
My heart is leaping
like a panicked bird
Reverend grips my arm
Stay close to me
People are eager to disembark
That terrible storm frightened everyone
It is only by the grace of God
we have arrived safely
I donât want to stay on the ship
but
I donât want to leave either
Whatâs wrong with me?
I hear Mumâs voice in my head
Be strong
When I am upset
Mum always says
Be strong
like I know you are
I take a shuddery gulp
Tell myself â
be strong
Reverend pulls me along
I breathe deeper
pretend I am bigger
taller
older
I walk like Iâm not afraid
like I am brave
I step onto the wharf
The land doesnât move
with my feet
or sway with my legs
like the sea does
My knees crumple
ground rushes up
A hand grabs me
Makes me stand
A hurried voice says
Thank you, Reverend Dale
Iâll take charge of the girl now
two
Iâm taken
to a government place
given
to a government man
sitting
in a government chair
hard eyes staring
Hmm, youâre a thin little thing
Well now
let me see
what
Somewhere
behind the wind
at the back of the sea
is my country
But how do I get there?
Iâm on deck
searching waves for land
Reverend is on deck
searching waves for his straw hat
The wind tugged it from his head
and stole it away
No hat
thin white hair
heâll burn
if the sun shines hot
Hat bobs close
Sinks
Maybe the whale who swallowed Jonah
will eat it
Reverend talks, talks, talks
about Jonah and the whale
Jonah gave his soul
to God
then ran away
God sent the whale
to teach Jonah a lesson
The whale wasnât hungry or evil
It was just a messenger
So you see, itâs important
to do what God tells you
Will a whale swallow me
if I donât?
Clouds race
sky rolls
lightning flashes
thunder growls
wind shrieks
storm breaks
Our ship rises
shivers
falls
rises again
Reverend says
If the ship sinks
every precious soul on board
will be flung into the sea
The Devil is always ready
to do evil work
Pray with me, child!
My guts have their own storm
I spew instead
It is a long time
before sea calms
wind dies
rain fades
When we are allowed
on deck again
I stand below
a river of colour
diving over the ship
into the sea
Reverend squints at the sky
A man named Noah
built a ship
to escape a great flood
that destroyed the earth
That rainbow you see
is a sign of Godâs grace
a sign of hope
I gaze at the rainbow
If I could reach you
I say in my head
would you slide me home?
Sunrise sparks a dim sky
Sea birds swoop and call
Reverend smiles
Our journey is over
This is our last port of call
The storm is behind us
civilisation ahead
People fuss and scurry
Reverend finds a quiet spot
Iâm glad to sit down
I have something important to tell you
I have given you a new name
You are now called Anne
Do you like the name Anne?
I already have an english name
Lots of people on the station
have english names
Boss wonât say language names
but I have one
My language name
is the name Mum whispers
when Iâm sick
The name she croons
when she strokes my hair
I love my language name
Anne was the mother of the Virgin Mary
The Virgin Maryâs family was blessed by God
Anne is a name to be proud of!
Reverend reaches for my hand
I hide it behind my back
His face twitches
I mean you no harm, Anne
But he wonât let me go!
I am doing what is best for you
But he will keep me trapped
I hunch over
stare at the deck
He sighs
You are as stif-necked as Jonah!
When we leave the ship
donât run like Jonah did
A port is a dangerous place for a child
Iâm sorry the Church didnât claim you first
But you will be in my prayers
And donât worry
you wonât be alone
A government man
will meet us on the wharf
He will take you to a place
suitable for children like yourself
A new home awaits you, Anne
People rush about
Some talk loud
some laugh
some push
My heart is leaping
like a panicked bird
Reverend grips my arm
Stay close to me
People are eager to disembark
That terrible storm frightened everyone
It is only by the grace of God
we have arrived safely
I donât want to stay on the ship
but
I donât want to leave either
Whatâs wrong with me?
I hear Mumâs voice in my head
Be strong
When I am upset
Mum always says
Be strong
like I know you are
I take a shuddery gulp
Tell myself â
be strong
Reverend pulls me along
I breathe deeper
pretend I am bigger
taller
older
I walk like Iâm not afraid
like I am brave
I step onto the wharf
The land doesnât move
with my feet
or sway with my legs
like the sea does
My knees crumple
ground rushes up
A hand grabs me
Makes me stand
A hurried voice says
Thank you, Reverend Dale
Iâll take charge of the girl now
two
Iâm taken
to a government place
given
to a government man
sitting
in a government chair
hard eyes staring
Hmm, youâre a thin little thing
Well now
let me see
what