In honor of Poetry Month (I know I’m late to the party, but it’s still April). I would like to share a poem from the Immigrant and Refugee Youth Voices Poetry Project at Foster High School in Tukwila, Washington. Poet and teaching artist Merna Hecht works each year with refugee students from war-torn countries as they struggle to find words to express their longing, their courage and resilience, and their hopes for the future. Hau Sian Khai is from Burma. He hopes he never forgets his home.
Where I Grew Up
by Hau Sian Khai
Sometimes I wish that my city in Burma was surrounded By cheerful green trees
weaving in the wind Fresh, bubbling blue water Clean, healthy air floating.
There are white, shiny bright tunics
Wondering around my city in Malaysia,
Long hairy beards like spider webs
Hurrying to the mosque for prayers.
Other times I think of
The smell of sea fish,
The smell of dead animals from hunger and cold, The smell of burning flames from
outdoor fires, The smells from garbage, awful funky animal smells.
The struggle of hunger,
The struggle of sickness
And dying, needing a cure,
The struggle of war,
People forced to move away from home,
Carrying their belongings and valuables
Like heavy, giant rocks.
For more information or to order a copy of the anthology, see Merna Hecht’s website.
