Two o'clock yesterday they put out.
The canoe was laden, we had seen to it,
With fishing nets, dried food, bread
And skins of water at their feet.
We walked into the sea, all of us
And the strongest gave them a shove
Swinging the boat like a battering ram
So it streaked, little goby, across the shallows
And we cheered, long and loud, bellowed
And hallooed, and some of us laughed
Real excited, mouths open, so the skies could see
Right down into our wet throats.

When did we stop cheering? The sea was calm
And they paddled fast, barely making a splash
Never looking back. We all stood silent
Some turned away when the colour of their clothing
...