The descendants of the first Australians their ways we do not understand <br />And no love is greater than their love for this their great Southern Land <br />For past Governmental wrongs against them the present Government refuse to apologize <br />Though some Government leader of the future may be far more prudent and wise, <br />They are the children of the Dreamtime and their numbers are in decline <br />And before the white invasion they would have lived happier and got on fine <br />Their Land from them was confiscated and they now live under white rule <br />When one looks back on Human history Human history can be so cruel, <br />Captain Cook arrived in Australia with his sailors from a distant northern shore <br />And the way of life for the indigenous inhabitants was to be changed forever more <br />Back in the year of seventeen eighty eight two hundred and seventeen years ago <br />Yet for the combined life spans of three people what progress do we have to show <br />In the preservation of Nature's creatures in this great Southern Land <br />And even the ways of the Children of the Dreamtime we will never fully understand<br /><br />Francis Duggan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-children-of-the-dreamtime/
