Poems

Burning Tree

A poem by Samuel Mclean

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Leafless tree against a bright moon.
In the words from a white Prime Minister, 'sorry'?
You think that justice has been served?
But where is my family tree the one that I deserved?
I lost mine in one generation, a generation where white man's justice was often curved.
We never asked for a 'sorry' in a politician's words,
We asked for respect, a respect which needs to be earned.
But you will never get this off me, you lost it long ago.
The only time i will give you mine
Is when you find my grandma's name,
The name the white man burned!

Thank you Sam for sending me this poem of yours!

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Cite this page

Korff, J 2020, Burning Tree, <https://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/arts/poems/burning-tree>, retrieved 11 December 2024

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