You peer insensate from the parapet
like some myopic gargoyle
one eye blinded by the future
the other averted from the past
And from your twisted spout- regret
Deep and sincere, no doubt
but, not sorrow: yet
Gabbling grotesque glyph
distorting the story of settlement
disguising deeds malign
by asserting good intent
Denying invasion of this continent
The small steps of the minuet
meant to reconcile at last
what happened in the past
Practical reconciliation
must surely be enough
to end the hate
and to placate
the conscience of the nation
for all the land
lives and children taken
And as such
you don't ask much
just that they demonstrate
their mutual obligation

BY JOHN TOMLINSON

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