Biographical Poetry posted January 13, 2023


Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level
The best aboriginal tracker in Australia

Alec (tracker) Riley

by Aussie

The prisoner had escaped the noose
Noose that he deserved
Deserved for the murders of people
People, farmers, innocents killed

Killed for fun, escaper on the run
Run until he found a sheep
Sheep fleece hid his footprints
Footprints didn't fool Alec

Alec, aboriginal Wiradjun Elder
Elder Alec joined the police force
Force for running down criminals
Criminals had no chance with tracker

Tracker Alec, best tracker working
Working for Dubbo Police forty years
Years that earned him King's Police medal
Medal never awarded to a black man

Man was promoted to Sergeant
Sergeant Riley, best tracker known
Known for hunting down men
Men who would hang for murder

Murder, one child was killed
Killed, never found, search stopped
Stopped by Police - Alec found the body
Body of a child broke his heart

Heart of steel tracking was his game
Game he would always win
Win over criminals and murderers
Murderers he brought to justice

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No Rules Poetry Contest contest entry

Recognized


Contest Entry: Aboriginal Elder, Alec Riley 1884 - 1970. Joined the NSW Police June 1911. He lived in Dubbo on Wiradjun country. Dubbo Police knew him to be the best tracker in Aust. 1911 -1950 he made sergeant. a rare occurrence for a black tracker. His grandson has just released a movie about Uncle Alec ( in tribal ways, women are called Auntie and men Uncle. Unmarried women called Sister and young men, brother.
Pays one point and 2 member cents.


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