since my people came here many years have gone and come
but when i walk through my home town people ask me where i'm from.
"Canada" i answer is where i'm born and raised
But ignorance is what these fools will carry to their graves.
'But really man, where are you from?
what strange foods do you eat?'
'Your face, it doesn't look like mine.
What language do you speak?'
i enunciate and say it slow, "i am Canadian".
But they can never understand so they just smile and grin.
They ask me in another way, "Where were your parents born?"
But the only answer i can give brings ridicule and scorn.
'my family is Canadian' i firmly answer back.
"That can't be true you foolish girl, your skin is clearly black."
So i turn the tables on them, I ask them where they're from.
"Newfoundland," they tell me "tried and true Canadians".
I ask them of their parents,
"Newfie bloodlines through and through".
Their voices proud as if to say, "i'm more Canadian than you".
They think their family's history surpasses that of mine,
but Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949.
"My family came on tall TALL ships, sales blowing in the wind
stolen, bruised and bloodied for the colour of their skin."
Their blue eyes lock they share a smile I"ve seen many times before
They think i should be humble downcast eyes upon the floor.
Cause no matter what i tell them, there's nothing i can say,
To them i'm just a visitor who'll go "home" someday.
There is no use in fighting. Why bother to implore?
so i take my pride and chocolate skin and calmly leave the store.
"how sweet," they say behind my back,
"she wants to be like us."
"we're open minded people,
let her sit where she wants on the bus."
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this is in no way meant to insult or otherwise "pick on" newfies. it just so happen that they were the last province to join confederation.
3 comments:
You wrote it, right? I loooooooooooove it!
I wanted to mass mail to throughout my company so they can FINALLY understand what the deal is, and all that other stuff we've talked about so many times on the phone.
it's really good. And I don't think it's too cheesy - any of the parts that 'could' be deemed chessy still work well - 'cause you're pointing out the ridiculousness of people's views. I really like it. I want you to do it somewhere. :D And you're not picking on the newfies. haha
my mother took offense at the newfie reference. some days she's strangely PC.
if milo didn't mind i'm sure it's cool.
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