homework for w/e 01.08.11 SEARCHING

[Maureen K Clifford]

SEARCHING


He was heartsick for his country and homesick for his land
inside he felt he walked on foreign soil.
So vivid were the memories though many years had passed
and all of them were spent at honest toil.
His face was dark and weathered underneath the shady brim
of his worn stained hat. His eyes rheumy and red.
But one heard the sadness deep within his soul when he did speak
and I never will forget the words he said.

Life’s all about balance and it’s hard to get it right
but you must try, to keep life on an even keel.
Let go of hurts and insults and move on and live your life
for you can’t change them, though inside pain you feel.
Some folks do thing because they can – others do them for good
though at times perhaps their thought process is flawed.
I was a stolen generation child – and I’ve had a good life
but it hurts to see that problem still ignored.

As a child I knew great sorrow and knew I did not belong
where I was, far from my family and home.
Children were taken from their mothers, often torn from their arms.
There were many stolen - I was not alone.
Mothers tried to make the light skin babies look darker somehow
by rubbing charcoal into tender skins too light.
It took quite some convincing the authorities to fool
but some were saved by this tactic all right.

And some folks they don’t understand where we are coming from
when we say that we want justice for our plight.
They say ‘you’ve had a good life Mate’ and can’t see nothing wrong,
they don’t understand at all ‘cause they are white.
It’s a feeling deep inside – perhaps no words can this explain.
It’s about culture lost – many don’t know their song.
They know nothing of their ancestors or of their native home
they are outcasts who don’t know where they belong.

They’ve no knowledge of their families for they were torn apart
Just as wars tear families apart today,
and no matter that we’re all old now – that fear remains within
that there’s no family to see us on our way.
I am a stranger in my country, and yet still I search and pray
for family connections – I'm sure you understand;
that now I'm old with my days numbered, when I pass to the dreamtime
I want to come out of the shadows – not be a stranger in this land.


Maureen Clifford © 07/11


A morning spent listening to Vic Simms and Archie Roach and this wrote itself. These two blokes do powerful work.

[mummsie]

Love this one Maureen, tells the side of the story that most of us are ignorant of.
As you said, it's wonderful how just a few words can take us down such different paths.
Cheers
Sue

[Maureen K Clifford]

Gee you two were quick off the mark the ink wasn't dry on the paper I thank you Sue and Marty for your kind words.

Don't know if you have caught the movie "Rabbit proof fence" but it would open the eyes of lots of people and this song by Archie Roach is a favourite of mine. Both Archie and Ruby Hunter his wife were stolen children. Ruby taken at the age of 8 from her family. Ruby was also a singer and actress - sadly she passed away in February 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLXzKYP1 ... ture=feedf