Well-found, Patrick.
Mind you, 'immigration', the theme mentioned, sounds too narrow.
I wonder what are the poems thought relevant already.
I could name numerous Aus and NZ poems about um the colonial experience.
Poems by Judith Wright, who was the great supporter of Oodgeroo/Walker,
ponder the damage done by the white settlers...
On 13/10/10 11:53 PM, "Patrick McManus" <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/show/38883-Oodgeroo-Noonuccal--Kath-Walker--Dream
> time
>
> cheers ! Patrick
>
> Dreamtime
>
> Here, at the invaders talk-talk place,
> We, who are the strangers now,
> Come with sorrow in our hearts.
> The Bora Ring, the Corroborees,
> The sacred ceremonies,
> Have all gone, all gone,
> Turned to dust on the land,
> That once was ours.
> Oh spirits from the unhappy past,
> Hear us now.
> We come, not to disturb your rest.
> We come, to mourn your passing.
> You, who paid the price,
> When the invaders spilt our blood.
> Your present generation comes,
> Seeking strength and wisdom in your memory.
> The legends tell us,
> When our race dies,
> So too, dies the land.
> May your spirits go with us
> From this place.
> May the Mother of life,
> Wake from her sleeping,
> and lead us on to the happy life,
> That once was ours.
> Oh mother of life,
> Oh spirits from the unhappy past,
> Hear the cries of your unhappy people,
> And let it be so.
> Oh spirits- Let it be so.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
> Sent: 11 October 2010 17:02
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: British or Commonwealth poem re immigration
>
> Any suggestions to answer this query I rec'd?...
> --
> Jim -- Off the top of your head, can you think of any good not too long
> modern or contemporary British or Commonwealth poems on immigration? For a
> class in the spring. I have some good USA ones, but want to add some Brit
> Lit ones, too.
> --
> Thanks,
> Finnegan
--
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