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She danced for the white men
Proud Aboriginal Elder
by Aussie
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Nora's tiny feet slapped dusty street
Her cotton shift - shapeless
She shuffled slowly to the beat
White men laughed 'she's harmless'
"Dance for us darkie-girl, dance!"
White men laughed out loud
At Nora's meagre prance
White-eyed fear; eyes did cloud
She danced with tears held back
Remembered her father's dance
Minagaloo - proud tribal black
Gave her shame to chance
Chanting in her own way
Minagaloo sat down in dust
The clouds had cleared away
In Creator she put her trust
Her tribe had her surround
White men shouted loud
Minagaloo finally found
Her family gathered proud
No more suffering her way
Minagaloo lifted her head
White men afraid - no more play
Haste sent them; feet like lead.
Today she bears no shame
Dressed well with shoes
Nora is her name
Tribal elder - she will not lose.
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Author Notes
Thanks to Google for photo of Aboriginal children.Australian regional dialect; true names withheld. Nora won the coveted Order of Australia for her work for Aboriginal land rights. The Stolen Generation is slowly regaining their lands and they sit on Parliament benches with peace in mind for all peoples.
Shift: a loose fitting cotton, sleeveless dress.
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