She breathes. This is to be whole again.

“I come from a family of witches.”

Why are you brown? You’re a brown person. Why?

Numerous times I
hacked off my sharp edges
carved myself into a new person
sanded my skin till it was smooth

They’re coming for our Countries
for our spirits
and our identities

I am reminded of the time a man once said jokingly, un bi yen thiak
a ‘joke’ we too often hear

We’re not going to let you win.

Fervent hands / making holy artefacts

We are locked off from the centre of our culture: our language. We are outsiders to our birthright.

and me, fighting for arm space with a businessman using the term “Kafkaesque” for the fifth time in one screening.