The Dice Is Now Cast Poem by Francis Duggan

For the Stolen Generation the present Australian Government cannot be held to blame
But more of the pity or more of the shame
That the present Prime Minister to Australia's indigenous people will not apologize
A clever politician he may be but he is not very wise.

For he did have his chances the word sorry to say
To the Aboriginal people and the word sorry would go some of the way
For to heal the wounds of past wrongs but he left the chance go by
And why he passed up the opportunity one has to wonder why?

For to say a belated sorry for a past Government's wrong
And in part bring some sort of closure to something that has gone on for so long
The simple word sorry would go a long way to heal
The mental scars of a genuine grievance indigenous people feel.

Against Australian Governments for wrongs of the past
But for indigenous and non indigenous reconciliation the dice is now cast
And a future Australian Prime Minister in the not too distant day
To Australia's indigenous people the word sorry will say.