This land was theirs before this land was yours. <br />From Eastern Seaboard to the Western Shore. <br />Before the Pilgrims beached at Plymouth Rock, <br />The Redskinned Folk the Bering Strait had crossed. <br /> <br />They had no horse, yet fashioned spear, shaft, bow, <br />Sowed seed, caught fish and chased the buffalo. <br />They lived in wigwams – children, braves and squaws. <br />With tomahawks they fought their tribal wars. <br /> <br />They had their gods, priests, rituals and chants. <br />Around their totem poles they danced their dance. <br />They knew not firewater, money, guns. <br />They measured time by rise and set of sun. <br /> <br />This land was theirs, was theirs by right of birth. <br />This land was theirs because they got there first. <br />This land was theirs before this land was yours. <br />But then you came…this land was theirs no more.<br /><br />Denys E. W. Jones<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-theft-outright/
