Colonial proxemics

Island scatter feels like pebbles in my joints,
They grind and grate against
My present,
Ever-lessening the hold of once-great Empire on the land.
England drew herself up to full height on the blood of 
Discovery,
And though not first 
She was most ruthless, most efficient, most accomplished, most of all.
This England sent her fastest ships to conquer, 
Covered vast meadows of ocean and sent figments of herself on every journey to the fall.
America got heretics, religion as their Plymouth rock, bold as bright new buttons.  
They came seeking release from strictured dogma.
They launched themselves at 'virgin' land.
They prayed for rain.
They found familiar green.
They landed in abundance, expanded with their dream.
Australia got criminals,  crushed people 
whose transgression was their hunger, who