Memory Lane

• Mariam Achi, Grade 8
• Poetry
• 2014

I used to fear bed time, without dreams
Now I fear the gunshots and children’s screams
I used to walk bare foot, flesh on grass
Now I walk on blood and bodies, as I pass
I used to roam the forests and villages
Until the white men, show up so strange
We Aboriginals hate the change
We used to work together hand in hand
Now we pull each other from the white’s hands
Where have all the children gone?
Where could they be?
They’re in the white peoples boats
Heading out to sea
Our trees of life are being chopped down
And are replaced with foreign materials to build a town
Instead of seeing nature and trees, I see my family dying right in front of me
Oh people! Don’t you realise our country is bleeding?
Don’t you realise our people are dying?
Don’t you know our land is hurt?
Things in Australia aren't the same
Let’s take a walk down memory lane