Immigrants

[TranquillityBase]

Immigrants

Stark wooden crosses
rise above strange ships
on the shore.

Cutting through morning mist
small boats closing in
at our door.

Odd men with bright banners
pull on to dry land,
where they kneel;

meet us with eyes
full of wonder, and hands
full of steel.

Two historical notes that might be useful:  at least in Mexico, the natives first thought the ships were floating temples.  Secondly, their beards as much as their pale skin were a source of wonder.

I guess I miss the natives' response to what they were seeing in your latest version.