In Honor of Poetry Month
In Honor of Poetry Month…
For My People (Inspired by Margaret Walker)
by Saamiya Sugrim
For my people the Indo-Guyanese inhabitants of Sub-Saharan people,
were once hard-working slaves: working on sugar plantations and large fields,
harvesting tobacco and wheat;
For my people East Indians who struggled doing chores for others,
cleaning planting land tending and harvesting picking the cotton
doing as told so they won’t get in trouble and scared for the abuse
they’ll get if they try to protest;
For my friends in Guyana’s capital
from South Asia acting out different
Bollywood movies, Indian soap operas, listening to soca music and
play harmonium, tabla, dholak and tossa drums,
and playing dhantal and listening to chutney music and taking
pride in cultural traditions.
For my fellow classmates we studied
hard together numerous times at school
being asked questions by students which had nothing to do with what we were learning,
people saying after summer vacation, oh we almost have the same
complexion now, or look your dark skinned and she is light but you’re both
Indo-Guyanese
rude and obnoxious comments which were always so annoying but left
ignored
Perception of Self
By Julia Cooper
How we’re seen,
isn’t an accurate depiction of who we are.
How others view us does not define us.
But,
How one views others,
shows their character.
who they are.
Who they are is by actions, thoughts, opinions, and words.
But, the inevitable as we are humans
We judge by sight.
What we think
What we heard
Not what we know
Not facts
How we’re seen,
Shows where is one’s heart,
In their eyes
Or their mind.
