{"collection":"aus","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/aus/peck/peck38.htm","path":"aus/peck/peck38.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/aus/peck/peck38.htm","text":"I write of those who held this land\n From time as far back as you will-\n To-day a wasted, stricken band.\n But yesterday a stalwart race\n Preserving in the gentle face\n The imprint of God's fingers still.\nEre Ovid's parchment spread the ink\n The tale was legend of the lips Of Perseus.\n And so, I think, 'Tis well to teach the world the lore\n Our aborigines forebore\n To teach--SAVE TO THEMSELVES--AND THEY'RE NOT QUIPS!\nBut we who've peeped into their hearts\n See there the deep and passioned beat-\n We see how quick a teardrop starts-\n We read the furrows of the brow,\n We know the ache that's with them now,\n We note their dragging, listless feet.\nThey count their age since life began\n Here, they the embryo at dawn;\n Here lived they when the earth was wan!\n Their age is aeons-is not years!\n And now they're dying of their tears!\n Down in their ashes hear them mourn.\nThey had no sea-borne argosy,\n They trecked no treck with questing feet-\n Such tales--they are but fantasy!\n Their God was Love-their life was law;\n Diseaseless, happy! Why wish more?\n In purity they had their seat.\nThen came white wings that brought them Death.\n They'd lived by love--but Nature saw\n In tune with God--sweet as His breath-\n But now they see who is the Last,\n They know their day has faded fast-\n We lie-'tis Nature's law!\n--C. W. Peck.","title":"Australian Legends: The End: The Aborigines","type":"page"}