now
so Iâm gunna chase the moon
and I know exactly how
Iâve got this appeal
due to be heard
itâll be knocked back
coz the judge is a turd
But if manatj 8 give me
a smidgeon of a break
itâll be a risky chance
Iâm prepared to take
Iâll start training tomorrow
or better still tonight
to be fit as a fiddle
and ready to fight
âYigga to the grill!
get ready for the court!â
Well this is finally it
my brain nervously thought
Shit, shower and shave
then into caged prison van
butterflies fluttering in guts
hoping that I can
take full advantage
of opportunityâs coming my way
remembering the cliche
âall are famous for one dayâ
Escorted to the cells
in the Supreme Court bowels
dark, dingy and dank
full of smells so foul
Slyly I slipped off tie
sticking it in me pocket
I had this flimsy plan
piss weak but donât knock it
They called out my name
To get myself prepared
I was bracing my institutionalised brain
beyond the realms of care
They cuffed both my wrists
and led me on out
I gave manatj a glance
both were stocky and stout
Up steep wooden stairs
the manatj escorted me
all thoughts in my head
were only of being free
We sat on a hard wooden bench
outside the courtroom
I was trying to shake off
premonitions of doom
âDo yaâs mind if I smoke?â
I asked one of the police
My frayed, tangled nerves
I hoped nicotine would ease
The manatj answered âNo,
but ya better make it quick
Iâm certain your name
will be called in a tickâ
I said I didnât care
if my appeal succeeded or not
as in six months time
Iâd be free on the trot
âIâve done three yearsâ
I added with reckless grin
âand another six months
is not original sin
and jail donât hurt much
if you stay relaxed
at least in prison a man
donât get his pay taxed!â
Both manatj just smiled
Seemingly more at ease
neither appeared to jerry
that I was on the sleaze
âDo yaâs reckon itâs possible
to take off the cuffs
so I can put on me tie
and look less of a scruff?â
They stared each other
in the eye-balls
one shrugged his shoulders
saying âno worries at allâ
I put on wrinkled tie
forced smile on face
deep down in my chest
my heart fairly raced
âJohn Yigga to room oneâ
the court bailiff called
on hearing these words
poor heart nearly stalled
âWell, here ya go Yiggaâ
The manatj said to me
âyouâll soon find out
what the appeal judge decreesâ
We walked into court
silent as a grave
I was breathing deep and hard
trying to be brave
The court clerk hit his hammer
Shouting âall ye stand!â
Wigged, owl-like judge entered
self-righteous and grand
âSo youâre appealing Mr Yiggaâ
he said down to me
with sarcastic look in his eye
âagainst sentence severity
Well, Iâm real sorry son
I see no solid grounds
and for this fundamental reason
your appeal is stood downâ
As they led me away
I thought âhere I goâ
at last this is it
Iâm hitting the toe
One cop had hold of me
by the left arm
his grip was relaxed
and he seemed to be calm
The other copper walked
a few feet ahead
suddenly I broke the grasp
and for freedom I fled
They pursued my elusive body
straight out the front door
shouting âStop you crazy bastard
in the name of the law!â
Into the court carpark
bending low I flew
trying to think clearly
of what I must do
A half dozen angry manatj
fell in on my trail
but my stamina was ready
through exercise in jail
âStop that dangerous man!â
the manatj yelled out
to the curious citizens
frozen by their shout
But I was through the park
and entering the street
Two exhausted coppers gave in
I had now four to beat
âGo like the wind bro!â
a Noongah 9 kid yelled to me
âSpring like the Bungarra 10
if you want