Apology
When the big ships came in
like pelicans, like cloud islands,
there was, of course,
the beautiful mission station
like pelicans, like cloud islands,
there was, of course,
the beautiful mission station
and all the comings
and goings that tended
to come to a head
and goings that tended
to come to a head
with everyone talking
and everyone friends
and everyone friends
and to tell the honest truth
all we ever wanted to do
was to sit down and try
to thrash things out with you
all we ever wanted to do
was to sit down and try
to thrash things out with you
but somehow or other
it ended up as it always does
with wounds and lamentations
and holes dug in the ground
for the dead,
it ended up as it always does
with wounds and lamentations
and holes dug in the ground
for the dead,
a mad woman hiding
in a dark corner of the house
(we handed her back to her family)
a little half-breed girl shot
and the watchman (we apologise)
in a dark corner of the house
(we handed her back to her family)
a little half-breed girl shot
and the watchman (we apologise)
