I wish you would
Understand
how haunted I am;
how haunted we are.
I wish you would comprehend
that the words passed down
from ancestors
upon my fresh ears
are Tainted
with blood, red.
Our ancestors spilled
across Country taken.
I pray for the day that you see
your words, spoken with care,
are wrapped in wilted lies.
How compassionate you are,
White woman:
with your empty words
and broken promises—
when this is not you.
You do not hold this pain.
You will never know it.
And we,
We cannot share it with you.
Cover image: Northcote Koori Mural. Designed by Megan Evans and Aboriginal artist and Elder Lin Onus, painted by trainee artists including Les Griggs, Ray Thomas, Millie Yarran, Ian Johnson, Elaine Trott and many other volunteers, owned by the Aborigines Advancement League.
Photo of the mural by Kazadams via Wikimedia Commons.
About the author
My name is Makayla and I am a proud Wiradjuri woman. I grew up on Wiradjuri country in Forbes and Cootamundra, NSW, and currently live on Ngunnawal country while at university studying psychology. I learnt of my Aboriginality when I was in late primary school; much of my poetry reflects this internal trauma of having my culture stripped from my family, and my process of re-learning culture. My Aboriginality shapes how I interact with country and community.
4 Comments
Makayla,
This poem is so beautiful written; so much heart has been poured into it.
How very proud you should be.
Keep up the great work guyz.
This site is absolutely fabulous!
Hello Makayla,
Your poem really touched my heart. I am Anishnabae (of the people) – our traditional territory is Northern Ontario, Canada. I learned about my Aboriginality when I was five years old and entered the white public school system and came home the first day not wanting to go back because the kids were calling me ‘brown baby’. I asked my parents why they were calling me that and my father said ‘because you are an Indian’. What’s an Indian I asked… and it was from that day on I have worked at reclaiming my identity and my culture and overcoming and challenging the stereotypes that are placed on me and other ‘brown babies’. Meegwich, I am grateful for your words.