After the fables We chewed on clocks, called it money; Swallowed fables, called it history. Now our hands dig for roots— Unearthing dreams crushed by boots. Forests hum, the stars remember— The sands that sing our Mother’s songs. Sunny Boy Brumby
After the fables
The River’s Dream
By Frog River, swift and wide,
Two frogs croaked on the mossy side.
Jack leapt high with restless cheer,
Mark sat still, his mind sincere.
“The Frog River” is now a song as well, with original music and watercolour illustrations 🙂
youtu.be/ItjDmjrfzb8?
We are still creating additional translations and resources — please let me know if you would like to create additional translations/resources
www.flcgroup.net/the-frog-riv...
The Frog River ❤️
youtu.be/ItjDmjrfzb8?...
The Gum Tree, the Kookaburra, and Me
xhslink.com/a/dW4yU7qoWjF7
My talk on ‘Applying Linguistics’ at the British Association of Applied Linguistics annual conference 🙂
Looking forward to seeing you at #FLC2025 ❤️
www.flcgroup.net/flc-2025/
‘Our Goolay’yari Home’, a children’s story ebook, is set at the Goolay’yari (Cooks River, Sydney), and follows a girl and her aunty exploring the river, the history, biodiversity and relationship to place – intended for preschoolers and their families.
www.flcgroup.net/our-goolayya...
Giving talks at my alma mater is always an emotional roller coaster… and, perhaps, also the most rewarding ❤️
youtu.be/MYykhhtkWfQ?...
The Frog River — reading + song
This should be a fun session with art and music and poetry 🙂
A decade after FLC first came to the Philippines, we are happy to announce that the 𝟏𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐅𝐋𝐂𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓) is coming back to the Philippines once again!
𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟯-𝟮𝟱, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines!
For updates: www.flcgroup.net/flc-2025/
Ten years after FLC first came to the Phillipines, we are super excited to announce that the 16th International Free Linguistics Conference will be held in the Phillipines once again – this time at University of Santo Tomas in Manila on October 24 and 25, 2025 🙂
www.flcgroup.net/flc-2025
Through Indigenous education, young people developed independence and skills needed in community. Through modern education, young people develop dependence and skills needed by corporations. Perhaps it is time to learn from Indigenous education and reform modern education. Prof Nomad
Indigenous vs Modern Education
What can never be given to the greedy? Born into a world of greed, One learns to want early. Taught through words written in books, One builds beliefs, without observance. Fed on food sourced from oppression, One confuses suffering with life. Forced into labour, enforced by law, One loses dignity again and again. Broken by a system built on symbols, One clings to any hope one can. Once all is lost, one finally realises: ‘Enough’ cannot be given to the greedy. Ahmar Mahboob Coen, QLD
What can never be given to the greedy?
Beautiful tomorrow? In the desolation of today, I hang on to the promises of tomorrow: When life will be in harmony And struggles gone. I believe that things will change And I will fly again over the rainbows Looking down at forests and rivers Spotting wildlife, as they enjoy their day. Waiting for tomorrow, I watch Videos about nature and read books About wildlife; I imagine the future And think of stuff to take along. And, then, I remember, yesterday and today: Where we pump more oil and burn more coal Cut more forests and mine more gold. And then, I wonder, how tomorrow will be. How will tomorrow be, if today: We kill each other and nature too; We build more weapons and borders too? Will tomorrow be beautiful, if today we neglect? Ahmar Mahboob
Beautiful tomorrow?
The beasts who fill the forests Live amongst the brooks and mist When we kill their rivers They drown along with the fish The lives who make this planet Live near, live far, in-between When we murder our Earth We destroy both lands and dreams The spirits of the forest Live high in the canopies When we cut their lodges They die along with the trees Ahmar Mahboob
The spirits of the forest
Live high in the canopies
When we cut their lodges
They die along with the trees
Broken for generations from ancestral lands, Where mythical beings (now strangers to me) Enchant and bring meaning to lives And breathe the fresh air of here and now: A world as full of sciences as stars above; I roam the earth: a child turned nomad. Robbed of the wisdom of my ancestors, Which was hidden in melodies of native songs, I have learnt, forgotten, learnt, and forgotten From written signs that smell of authority So often that I lose myself in their worlds and I know not where I am nor what I observe. Here, then, I am: unknown to me or my forebears. Lost in symbols from outside my world, I scramble to collect scraps that I make sense of And build my castle, hoping that I dazzle You into believing that I stand on solid ground. Ahmar Mahboob
Here, then, I am: unknown to me or my forebears.
Lost in symbols from outside my world,
I scramble to collect scraps that I make sense of
And build my castle, hoping that I dazzle
You into believing that I stand on solid ground.
Where are the fireflies? A cockroach, Sir Gentle Roach, Wearing his favourite four piece suit Looked down upon the firefly and said: Ha, what, you don’t even wear clothes! “For they will hide my glow” replied the firefly Ha, what, you don’t even own a home! “For we are the eyes of the wind” replied the firefly Ha, what, you are so tiny and small! “For we leave more for the rest” replied the firefly Ha, what, you don’t even have money “Money? What is that?” asked the firefly Ha, you are so useless and weak; Shoo, fly away, its not like you own this land! Slowly, the fireflies started to leave. And as they left, the wind lost its way, The river turned black, the fish drowned. Down by the banks, where the flowers danced, There was only stink and sticky mud. And there you see him, Sir Gentle Roach Smoking a pipe in his four piece suit. Prof Nomad
Where are the fireflies?
By Frog River, swift and wide,
Two frogs, Jack and Mark, reside.
Jack was bold and full of pride,
Mark was cautious, never lied.
One bright morning, in the sun's warm glow,
A red kangaroo hopped to and fro
"Is it safe to cross?" he asked with cheer…
www.flcgroup.net/the-frog-riv...