Silences- A poem from 2/12/99
I came to college
to suddenly have an identity
thrust upon me
I became an Indian
the "official Indian"
usually the only third world voice in the class
I came here and lost my voice
my earlier voice
cause it didnt belong
just didnt sound so right
I had to adjust to a new identity
and to a person i had to learn and read to became
a voice for the 3rd world - women, children and men
most of whom i never knew
or whose lives i could never lead
my silence became my solitude
my private space
that no questions could probe, dissect or analyze
it became a weapon
that they could not penetrate and hurt
with their racism and ignorance
my silence is my power
to suddenly have an identity
thrust upon me
I became an Indian
the "official Indian"
usually the only third world voice in the class
I came here and lost my voice
my earlier voice
cause it didnt belong
just didnt sound so right
I had to adjust to a new identity
and to a person i had to learn and read to became
a voice for the 3rd world - women, children and men
most of whom i never knew
or whose lives i could never lead
my silence became my solitude
my private space
that no questions could probe, dissect or analyze
it became a weapon
that they could not penetrate and hurt
with their racism and ignorance
my silence is my power
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