Sonnet VIII: My Ancestors

Long ago, my ancestors roamed this place

These mountains, jungles and mighty rivers

With bow and arrows and mud on their face

They were cannibals that fed on livers

From open savannahs to coastal plain

Rich with a vast range of animal life

They could make storm clouds and bring rain

My ancestors lived free and without strife

Missionaries came and said they’re unholy

You should never judge their tattooed cover

Why say their black magic was ungodly

When your fabled Jesus walked on water?

Never look at my people with distaste

And never draw such conclusions in haste.

Jordan Dean, Copyright © 2016

About the Author

Jordan Dean was born on June 12, 1984 on Fergusson Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. He currently works with the Papua New Guinea (Research), Science and Technology Secretariat in Port Moresby. He is the author of ‘Tattooed Face: A collection of Poems’ (2016) and ‘Follow the Rainbow: Selected Poems’ (2016).

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