My Land

By Zhana

Outside,

My land was stolen

By an alien race of people. 

I want it back. 

Actually, it was stolen some time ago

From my grandmother’s grandmother. 

I still want it back. 

You brought a foreign disease

Devastating and deadly.

It was called smallpox. 

We had no defence. 

It ate through our people

After you sold us the blankets

Taken from your dead. 

That’s right.

We paid you

To perform germ warfare on us. 

The Dalai Lama says you are our friends. 

I don’t think so. 

I want to walk on my land again. 

I want my feet to touch the earth. 

I want the grass to tickle my toes. 

I want to see the blue, blue sky

Over my land. 

Copyright  © Zhana 2004

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED