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WE WERE STRANGERS

Submitted by Poets Hand on Mon, 2023-02-06 04:08

We were strangers when the tall ships came, threw anchors in the sand,
You greeted us by shaking spears, then took us by the hand,
Our faces were as white as sails, a ghostly apparition,
Emerging from the deep blue sea, a frightful premonition.

The Elders made no sense of us, no common language held,
What reason must we have to come, what hope there'd be to meld?
We were strangers dressed in funny robes, clumsily stepping ashore
You saw nothing ever stranger then, no, not even ever more.

We were strangers when we lived in tents, shot wild your wallabies,
with guns that sound like clap sticks, in your night corroborees,
How much stranger could we ever have been, if thought was to decide,
Imagination couldn't wield more strangeness even if we tried.

We soon built houses made of wood and some of sandstone brick,
Where little roads with fences stood, among banksias knobbled sticks.
And then we took to ploughing ground, what new strangeness this must show,
We don't know what you thought of that, I guess we'll never know.

And here's the strangest thing of all, two hundred years have flown,
Our strangeness still has you perturbed, not much has really grown,
It's time we took you by the hand and try to learn your ways,
This strangeness has to be resolved desired for better days.

Style / type: 
Structured: Western
Review Request (Intensity): 
I appreciate moderate constructive criticism
Last few words: 
This poem attempts to describe the strangeness the First Nation People experienced when they first set eyes on Europeans in particular the settlement at Sydney Cove.
Editing stage: 
Editing - polished draft
Contest: 
February 2023 Challenge We Were Strangers
Content level: 
Not Explicit Content

Comments

Rosewood Apothecary

Mon, 2023-02-06 05:29

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Ever the consumer of cultures. The forced relocations and assimilations of native cultures by European colonization is far reaching. Obviously we reflect this exact situation here in the United States. It is sad. No reparations will ever weigh up.

Tim

The poetry is spot on as always.

Poets Hand

Mon, 2023-02-06 05:59

Poets Hand's picture

Thanks Tim for the agreeable inspiration about colonization. You say "the poetry was spot on as always" and I take this as a great compliment.

I recently read a poem by yourself entitled "Finding Home" in which you describe that home lives within us and dwells within a beating heart and is demonstrated through our art. I find this imagery very true as I write about Australia and Australians (white and black I make no distinctions). I found this poem to be very reinforcing and uplifting. This poem gives me permission to continue in my art to write about home.

Thank you
Poets Hand
Hannah

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Rosewood Apothecary

Mon, 2023-02-06 06:16

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Thanks for your incredibly kind comments and for reading my poetry.

Tim

Poets Hand

Mon, 2023-02-06 15:11

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My Pleasure

Poets Hand
Hannah

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Geezer

Mon, 2023-02-06 09:37

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about the day, when some highly advanced culture comes "ashore" on our planet
and treats us with the same distain and disregard as we have shown to our own
so-called "primitive" cultures.

That said; I commend you on the great write and sensitivity you display here.
Your poem is very well done and shows the work you have put into crafting it.
~Geezer.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

Poets Hand

Mon, 2023-02-06 15:16

Poets Hand's picture

Thank you Geezer for these sentiments we do deserve to be treated in like kind. Will we ever learn the lesson though no matter who comes? Jesus taught us these same sentiments but we chose to ignore that also. I'm afraid we are doomed to failure in this posture.

Poets Hand
Hannah

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Seren

Mon, 2023-02-06 09:56

Seren's picture

Where do I start. I think you've shown a little of your soul here, it's compassion and your open heart. It's hard for people to understand someone who has a foot in each world. I'm torn with the mysteries and torn from the history.

I am a few generations removed but I have a full blood durrogan. I am Merring. Biripi word for star.

Thank you for tackling what is a touchy subject with such grace.

BTW second stanza stepped ashore? I'd put stepping ashore. As always they are just suggestions. I absolutely love this poem.

Kind regards Jayne

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” — W.B. Yeats

Poets Hand

Mon, 2023-02-06 15:40

Poets Hand's picture

Your insights always astound me you have such a beautiful soul that is capable of seeing and identifying with the souls of others. It's amazing that you are Durrogan. I have no such blood in me but I am the descendent of the pioneers who first set foot here in1864. I have an extensive family tree from Settlers who emigrated to this wonderful land. They suffered an awful three month journey on overcrowded sailing ships plagued with disease in transit, only to be met with further hardship and the isolation of the outback.

BTW- I think you might be absolutely correct about the second stanza "stepping ashore" . These little meter syllables often pass me by. I will change it in future releases.

Thank you very very much
Poets Hand
Hannah

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Seren

Mon, 2023-02-06 20:39

Seren's picture

My settler family came to this area in 1836, four brothers who populated the very land I walk on. I have family that has been DNA traced back to the three collas in Ireland, I also have Mongol and english blood, On my father's side. The Three Collas are rumoured to have come to Ireland as Roman Centurions. I have a rich history on both sides of my family.

Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate them. This is a hard topic for me to write about. One side I'm forbidden to tall about the secrets. The other sing their song so loud it tries to drown out the mysteries. It's hard. Harder than one would think. In a sense I am damned if I do and damned if I don't. I am proud of my heritage but I don't want to betray either side. My Durrogan was an Elder Female there is no word I've found that means GM in the Biripi language, just Durrogan. I am Birirpi tribe.

Kindest regards Jayne

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” — W.B. Yeats

Seren

Mon, 2023-02-06 20:39

Seren's picture

My settler family came to this area in 1836, four brothers who populated the very land I walk on. I have family that has been DNA traced back to the three collas in Ireland, I also have Mongol and english blood, On my father's side. The Three Collas are rumoured to have come to Ireland as Roman Centurions. I have a rich history on both sides of my family.

Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate them. This is a hard topic for me to write about. One side I'm forbidden to tall about the secrets. The other sing their song so loud it tries to drown out the mysteries. It's hard. Harder than one would think. In a sense I am damned if I do and damned if I don't. I am proud of my heritage but I don't want to betray either side. My Durrogan was an Elder Female there is no word I've found that means GM in the Biripi language, just Durrogan. I am Birirpi tribe.

Kindest regards Jayne

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” — W.B. Yeats

Poets Hand

Mon, 2023-02-06 22:52

Poets Hand's picture

Dear Merring (I hope I got that right) I can understand your dilemma our own family tree research has often (more often than I want to know about) turned up illegitimate children. This means that the parents are not true to the law. This presents embarrassment on many sides and those affected want to keep the knowledge secret. "What do you want to know that for!" is the usual response. You are right that "you are damned if you do and damned if you don't " write it down. All I can say is stay true to your own heart and soul no-matter how much it hurts
you must hang onto the persona you are and not be drowned out by the loudness of the singing. You have your own song and story.

Best Regards
Poets Hand
Hannah

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RoseBlack

Mon, 2023-02-06 17:48

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Another wonderful story! We definitely need to change how we treat others if we want better days. Well done!

~RoseBlack~

Poets Hand

Mon, 2023-02-06 23:03

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Dear -RoseBlack- I am very thankful that you took the time to read and think about my poem We Were Strangers. I am even more grateful that you took time out of your busy schedule to comment on it. I appreciate all the attention and constructive criticism I have received over my poetry during this past week. Your name pops up frequently as an avid reader. I thank you so much for that.

Best regards
Poets Hand
Hannah

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