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.