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The Song of the Transportees

THE SONG OF THE TRANSPORTEE or

AUSSIE IMMIGRATION RULES

This ship sets sail for the end of the world,
And I am chained on board, restrained.
Else I would leap right over her side,
To reach you, my true love.

These Northern lights I’ll see no more,
Tears make them hazy, I’m half – crazy,
I leave you now, to live the rest of my life,
Without you, my true love.

THE HERON FLIES – HOMEWARD ‘CROSS THE EVENING SKIES.
BUT YOU AND I – NEVER MORE WITH YOU I’LL LIE.

So damn the laws that put me here,
I stole some bread, to keep you fed.
That’s all I took, it saved your life:
I’ve lost you, my true love.

The sails fill with a mighty clap,
The pilot steers, the channel’s clear,
Now I, heartbroken, wave goodbye.
To you, my lost true, love

Style / type: 
Structured: Western
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Last few words: 
I thought I'd have a go at song-writing. I'm not musical ,but I have a folk-tune in mind
Editing stage: 

Comments

This is both good as a poem and i think a song as well. Reminds me of some lessons we got at school about the convicts, convicted of very little, being sent to Australia. So far from home that even if released they could not return. Regards Roscoe...

Roscoe Llane,

Religion will rip your faith off, and return
for the mask of disbelief that's left.

Thanks for the kind words, Roscoe. It is primarily a song and my brother composed me a tune for it( he's a folk singer up north at Aberdeen ) The chorus is the bit in capitals
Regards

Ian

TIME FLIES LIKE AN ARROW, BUT FRUIT FLIES LIKE A BANANA

author comment

Your write was good and would make either song or Poem, I have put below an actual song from Moreton Bay which was sung by the transported people way back when it was the done thing.

Moreton Bay
One Sunday morning as I went walking
By Brisbane waters I chanced to stray
I heard a convict his fate bewailing
As on the sunny river bank I lay
I am a native from Erin's island
But banished now from my native shore
They stole me from my aged parents
And from the maiden I do adore
I've been a prisoner at Port Macquarie
At Norfolk Island and Emu Plains
At Castle Hill and at cursed Toongabbie
At all these settlements I've been in chains
But of all places of condemnation
And penal stations in New South Wales
To Moreton Bay I have found no equal
Excessive tyranny each day prevails
For three long years I was beastly treated
And heavy irons on my legs I wore
My back from flogging was lacerated
And oft times painted with my crimson gore
And many a man from downright starvation
Lies mouldering now underneath the clay
And Captain Logan he had us mangled
All at the triangles of Moreton Bay
Like the Egyptians and ancient Hebrews
We were oppressed under Logan's yoke
Till a native black lying there in ambush
Did deal this tyrant his mortal stroke
My fellow prisoners be exhilarated
That all such monsters such a death may find
And when from bondage we are liberated
Our former sufferings will fade from mind

Hope you can feel the essence of their plight, Take care,
Yours Ian.T

PS I had a long poem on Neopoet about being sent to the colonies, this was to coincide with my trip there, but I took it off as the feedback was very small.. This is where the name Sparrow comes from he was transported those many years ago lol

.
There are a million reasons to believe in yourself,
So find more reasons to believe in others..

Thanks for the info, .I suppose they were lucky not to be hanged. The law in GB at one time gave hanging as the penalty for sheep stealing - later revoked as the juries refused to convict.
In fact one of my ancestors was caught stealing cattle - apparently he was so poor that his clothes were made of brown paper and he was charged with rustling !

Ian

TIME FLIES LIKE AN ARROW, BUT FRUIT FLIES LIKE A BANANA

author comment

Like your joke! and your poem. Your poem highlights the obserdity of the laws of that time..may people suffered terrible injustice, hardship and pain of heart.. Let's hope that this part of history never repeats itself.

interesting piece of history intertwined with a sad tale of lost love.

Love Mand xxxxx

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