Stolen Child

About a shameful period in Australian history where black cildren were removed from their parents and the tribe.

 

Stolen Child

 

 

I see a bush camp in the distance

Under the shade of ragged bleached canvas

Fluttering like a wounded animal

In the sweltering breeze

Baked desert earth

Crossed with deep scars

Hiding creatures of instinct

Red dust long blown onto distant hills

And from cooking fire of smoldering coals

Lazy smoke rises in wispy curls

To scent the universe

I see movement

Tranquility in slow motion

Black man

Black woman

Black child

Without shame and shoe-less

Child on hip and to a cloudless sky

To the innocent child she hums

A lullaby

 

Big black car come we gunna run

That be the sheriff with the paper gun

Change you name gal speak different word

Live in the shadow of tha white man world

 

 

Author: Throughout early Australian history through to the early seventies, aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their families and adopted into white families. Droc has vivid memories of the time, and of the upper class society who arrogantly adopted the children in much the same way as they wore their Gucci cloths and Rolex watches,  fashion statements, ‘look how wealthy I am,’ and ‘look how compassionate I am.’ The evil of the act was exposed when the status quo destroyed all the records thus ensuring these children never discovered who their parents were. The Australian Government made an official apology to the ‘Stolen Generation’ in 2008, and although the author recognizes the sincerity of the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Droc believes it was resented by large sections of the public who felt an apology implied some responsibility.