Do Respect First Australians Poem by Francis Duggan

Respect the first Australians as you would like them to respect you
And sadly respect to them is overdue
Their ancestorshave lived in Australia for thousands of years
Instead of happiness the arrival of Cook and his sailors only brought them suffering and tears

That Australia's first people lived happier and healthier happens to be so
Before the arrival of the people from the northlands two hundred and thirty one years ago
From their ancestral lands others only stood to gain
That they are treated as second class citizens in their own Country seems beyond one to explain

As Australia's first people in this southern land they should take pride of place
Yet no Australian governor general or prime minister as of yet ofindigenous race
Their existence in Australia by thousands of years pre date written history
Yet sadly today many first Australians are living in dire poverty

That many of themlive as second class citizens in their southern homeland
Is something way beyond one to understand
Australian governments even disrespect them on their choice of date of Australia Day
To Australia's first people far more respect than this we should pay.