Lament of the Eureka Women

W & m copyright Graham Seal 2008

The storming of the Eureka Stockade at Ballarat in 1854 was a bloodbath.


They came like death at dawn;
Bearing muskets through the fields.
The soldiers came with eyes of flame,
They killed with hearts of steel.

They beat the bitter drum.
Their swords and bayonets flashed.
They tore our flag like a beggar's rag,
Burned our dreams to ash.

They fired our hearths and homes;
Left them open to the skies.
With hands of blood they took our loves:
They would not meet our eyes.

No, they could not bear our eyes.


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