Poem by Wendy Norman (Seafarrwide)

The clouds drifted across the sky as I gazed from my little bed up so high

A sense of aloneness crept over me I was just a mere sweet child of three

Children would push and taunt me so sometimes pointing and telling me go

Tears of sadness filled to the brim I had no understanding what was my sin

I loved to run with my brother Mark feel the sun and acting a lark

Little girls would laugh like tinkling glass drinking lolly water from tea cups in the park

They would be dressed in pink and frilly lace when I had dirt smeared on my face

My feet were bare without a care down by the creek skimming rocks at a tree

I was an expert at catching frogs, finding caves and singing Coo ee!

My brother was my partner in crime we loved the bush it was where we spent time

My skin was dark sun-kissed all day mixed with dirt and sometimes clay

A sorry sight we would be at night our bath water would be cause quite a fright

Behind our ears was dirt so thick mother scrubbed into the night

I grew so thin, my eyes got bigger my skin went dark and they called me nigga

My spanish grandma was in me and some sun  but the kids were mean so they took fun

School was harsh as they made us march I stood out my tunic hand-made by mum

The collar large like an artist smock the children laughed and would mock

It didn’t match the school like it should  my mother tried but just misunderstood

I felt the familiar crimson rise of shame  which gutted my pride and gave me pain

Held bowed and eyes to ground I would drag my feet homeward bound

Kicking off my shoes and running to the creek

Finally happy with no grief..ah childhood sand and grit

Image of my brother and I

Creek image sourced from shadowness.com

Published by Seafarrwide

Passionate woman, enjoying life, learning new things, love traveling, writing thoughts and sharing memories. View all posts by Seafarrwide