BOORIMUL

BOORIMUL - How the Boorimul lost its wings

A long time ago, the Boorimul lived in the sky. 

His nest was on the clouds. 

Every evening from his nest he used to watch the brolgas (another bird) dancing by the lake Hills and he loved their dance.

That Boorimul was wondering to himself if he could come down and dance like them.

So one day he flew down from his nest to where the brolgas were dancing.

Then he went among them and asked the brolgas to teach him their dance.

One of the brolgas said to him, "Spread your wings out like this. "

And then another one of the brolgas said to the Boorimul, "Come on, dance like this, the way we brolgas dance.”

So he tried but his wings were so big they got in the way. The brolga got angry and stopped the emu, and shouted, "Spread your wings!"

Then the Boorimul spread his wings.

"No! no! no!" all the brolgas shouted to the emu, "Your wings are too big!

We'll have to cut them off and make them small like our size.  So all the brolgas got hold of his wings — both sides. They held the Boorimul's wings tight and one of the brolgas got the sharpest stone axe and cut the Boorimul's wings to make them shorter.

But he cut them too short and too low. the Booriuml spread his wings, but he couldn't see his wings any more!

He got a fright and he was sad that he had lost his wings. And he said to the brolgas, "You tricked me!"

This was because the brolgas were jealous of his big wings. Then he took off into the plains, away from the brolgas and he is never seen near the lake because the brolgas are his enemies.