C.Y.

I saw a statue of C.Y. OConnor today, standing tall in the docks of Fremantle. The man who made the place, built the harbour so ships could come bringing lots of things and people.

A big pipe too, this man made. A long one with water in it. Not a river, but a pipe, so that we can drink. quench thirst through the pipe that the man made. Not a riversparkling ,fresh ,clear, cool water through a pipe, out of tap, into glass, into mouth, through body, into toilet, down a pipe

Maybe lots of pipes. Who knows? Never really understood that system Waste water sewerage plants growing wastes? Do they need water?.. Do they blossom flowers? What colour petals? Blue? Pink? Do they smell? Putrid. Waste plants stinkWater pipes, carry it all away from my nose please. I dont want to know it.

Thank god for the men who make long pipes. Means we dont have to know about water

wheres it come from?wheres it go?

Means we dont have to smell yucky smells.

We just have to drink. Water, that is, out of a tap, not a river. From a piece of metal. Out it comes..there it is.. so easy.. just like magic. Magic Man C.Y.OconnorHe made water from a pipe

And his statue stands still in Fremantle----------------

---------------Stone Cold --------------A piece of metal

And on top of his head rests a pigeon, having a little sit before continuing on his way. A good place to stop, on that statues hard head. Good viewnice smooth shape, a mans skull Round but not so round that youll slip or slide off its a little bit flat on the top.

So pigeon sits comfortably, looking at the harbour view, surveying this mans work. Yes, very good. Very good indeed. Ships are coming in, ships are going out. Yes they bring things and yes there are people about working hard to load and unload the things that have been brought.

Pigeon watching through CYs stone eyes, surveying the scene together.

Yes, very good. Things worked out just the way I wanted. Ships can come in, ships can go out, bringing things and taking them away. People too. And animals. Sheep and cows and pigs sometimes. Yes, very good. All turned out just great. A thriving port it is Ive made, a thriving port indeed.

A deed? Did someone talk about a deed? A good one? Or a bad one?

The pigeon plops on CYs head.

Or was it a deed, a legal one, a document involved, stating:

Yes, we give permission for you to trench our river, dig our ground and tumble trees to make your fort, your port, your healthy, hearty harbour. Just like we gave permission for that prison to be built, round in shape, with a flat top to put blackfella in so many years ago..

No escape. Cant interfere. Convenient. Safe.

No. I dont think it was a deed. not a legal one anyway. No one there to make it. Blackfellas all locked up in the hard, round flat skull of white mans head.

Pigeon ruffles its feathers

Steeds more like it. Yes thats what they mustve said. Just misheard a bit. Easy to do. Steed/Deed. Same sound. Easy to get all mixed up.

Yes. thats what he was. All mixed up as he rode along the beach on his steed

galloping, galloping faster, faster get away hide faster, faster away from the deed thats been done

Quick! Go!

A Dangerous Deed Digging deep without permission Locking hearts and souls in prison Keeping truth out of the light

Wonder what C.Y was thinking. Horses hooves pound cool, clear waterfresh from oceannot a pipe

Pounding, pounding.faster, fasterQuick!Go!

Get out of site!

His mind is racing like a madman. Hes lost control of all his thoughts. He just wants to get away

Go! hide...Quick!, Quick!

run fast from deed thats done

And then he stops Pulls reins hard. And breathes

The stillness helps him think. Only soft waves crashing on the shore. All else is flat and silent. No motion, only thinks

About a time gone past. An image clear inside his head. A memory of a girl that once he knew and loved and stroked a lot. One night in bed she asked him gently, What is it that engineers do? And he answered as he twirled with a curl on her forehead, We change the Order of Things

He pulled the curl straight, then continued his answer, saying, And thats about as dramatic as life gets

He lets the curl go and watches it spring back to its natural shape. Then he falls asleep to the sound of the girls soft, gentle breathing.

C.Y starts to breathe faster. Comes out of his dreaming. Feels his steed get impatient below. Not used to just standing, Wants to keep galloping.

Faster, faster
Like in a race Get there firstQuick! Go!

No!

C.Ys sick of the racing. The pace is too fast.

For once he wants to stop and be still with the waves and the soft, gentle breeze that is starting to blow around him

He strokes his steed to calm him down and looks out to the horizon. Ocean blue and pale, pink morning sky. Wisps of clouds catching the light of the sun coming up behind him

Oh what a beautiful site! And how lucky he feels to be witnessing it on this morning.

At peace

No pressureNo pipelineNo harbour No deeds Just the gentle sound of the ocean waves, a soft, cool breeze and the soothing glow of the morning light Aaahhhtranquility at last. Silence Stillness

Thankyou

And he sighs again, his breath slows down, his racing heart is easing. Even his steed below starts to settle, giving in to the peace of the moment.

The race is all over. C.Y feels it. C.Y knows No more galloping, galloping faster, faster No more hiding running, runningQuick! Go! Hes safe now. Its all here the prize, the reward for his toils and efforts. Its all here No need to dig and destroy in the hope of discovering it, or build great constructions to gain it. Hes found it The peacethe beautythe moment as it ison the beach...on his steed looking out to the horizon

He wants it to last forever.

C.Y. reaches inside his warm jacket, pulls out his grey revolver and quickly does the deed that will make sure his desire is fulfilled.

The moment lasts forever now.

C.Y. falls onto the sand. His steed, in fright runs fast away.

C.Y. rests upon the land. Still body.. Still mind.

At peace now

The cool, clear water of the ocean washes around him, gentle caresses embracing the choice he has made and helping him leave this life as the Order of Things so requires.

The site where he dieds got a statue there now - C.Y on his horse in the water. Its made out of copper and is starting to greensea salt naturally eats it away. And people walk by they stroll with their dogspeaceful moments at the end of the day. Watching the sun going down behind C.Y on his horsegiving thanks for the beautiful sight.