Last+of+His+Tribe

Last of His Tribe Oodgeroo Noonuccal (1992)

Change is the law. The new must oust the old. I look at you and am back in the long ago, Old pinaroo lonely and lost here Last of your clan. Left only with your memories, you sit And think of the gay throng, the happy people, The voices and the laughter All gone, all gone, And you remain alone.

I asked and you let me hear The soft vowelly tongue to be heard now No more for ever. For me You enact old scenes, old ways, you who have used <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Boomerang and spear. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">You singer of ancient tribal songs, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">You leader once in the corroboree, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">You twice in fierce tribal fights <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">With wild enemy blacks from over the river, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">All gone, all gone. And I feel <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">The sudden sting of tears, Willie Mackenzie

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">In the Salvation Army Home. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Displaced person in your own country, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Lonely in teeming city crowds, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Last of your tribe.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">accessed at: Australian Poetry Library: []