MY IDENTITY (poem 16 Dec 2006)

I am a product
of reverse colonisation disorder
a rainbow refugee
in places of my choice
giving thanks for the freedom
of an EU passport
the gifts
of a talent for languages
the solidity
of my parents' teaching
that trying to be like everyone else
is not something we're into.
I said it once before
life on Earth is a lottery
much of your life or death decided at birth
and I know
I was born with a golden ticket:
favourable circumstances and great potential,
I pray each day for the inner strength to put them to good use.
My identity
is the people I have loved and the lessons I have learnt
the cultures I have lived and the songs I have heard.
My journey is my identity
I am shaped every day;
and I am God's
so the World is my oyster,
and Heaven is my final destination.

"This is what she said" (poem 9 Dec 06)

Ears filled with cotton wool
all I remember
is a greyscale slow-motion movie
of childhood years
when mum was absent...
she was there, like,
I could see her,
she WAS there,
but somehow
I couldn't feel her.
Years filled with things she didn't say,
things like"I love you - give me a hug!"
"oh, you're a good girl"
"let me comb your hair" or
"you look pretty in that"
But it's alright
she did find the end to her tunnel
and we now hold hands
as we marvel at how sunny it is outside.