Covenant

Surely, from some other place
a world never imagined, they
came across the endless ocean
to see and covet this land of our
ancestors. They are powerful,
their armies surpass our warriors
in weapons and strategies unknown
to us. They bring gifts to show their
peaceful intentions, yet when we
spurn them, their faces are grim
and the sticks they carry threaten.
Their King sends his greetings.
Such proclamations are explained
to our chiefs and our elders, in
assurance of how they honour us
and wish to live alongside us on
the land, without strife. They wish
to farm our traditional hunting
grounds, and to log our forests and
to mine the land. They assure us
that care will be taken to allocate
reserves of land - our land - only to
us alone, where no white man may
intrude. We have only to sign here,
with a mark, and it is done. Yes,
they avow recognition of our first
place here, for this is our land, and
we will freely agree to share this land.
Some among us whisper the white
man speaks with a crooked tongue,
even the King who says he will give
us money and good health and
educate our young in his ways.
Some say the white man conspires
to trick us and take our land.