Kinchela (The Stolen Kids)

by Paul Buttigieg

The years have gone now
Not sure what sorry can do
For
Us boys

Abused
Lonely

Not just black
Black and blue

So who loved us?
Then

Who watched the watcher?
As he made love to me
And
Lusted over my young body

We climbed through windows
We ran away
Criminals

Just
For being black and stolen

Exercises

• What happened at Kinchela?
• Why is the boy 'black and blue'?
• Put this poem into the context of the Stolen Generations.