Moving by force

I didn't choose to be here

I didn't come here

I was brought here

Then why stay so long?

It made me suffer

It made me grow

Not here or there

I didn't feel at home

I had to assimilate

to the point of hate

I hated my roots

I hated myself

I hated my people

My language

My culture

It then became my future

But it didn't last long

Thankfully, I had enough

I open the first chapter

and read the last line

The book is open now

But I choose to oblige

then, I battle to survive

Is not about me, or my choices

I realised it become my destiny

Now I can see

Who I am and where to be

No, I don't belong here

The bureaucracy doesn't want me

They took my freedom

Forced to stay

Had no options

or anything to say

If I say it or if they know it

Will call the pigs on me

Already got a scare

But Xangô was with me

No, I don't belong here

Pauline Massimo,

2024