Minority

Megan Ugle
 

As I look around for my moort my people 
I start to feel estranged 
with all these different faces looking back at me 
the truth of the matter is 

some show no respect or interest  
yet they bring everything of theirs 
their language their culture  
their ways 

I am in my own country 
I feel like a stranger 
that does not belong 
I feel like a minority 

within our very own boodja 
displaced and dislodged 
our old people had to let go of their very own identity  
carry a dog tag to survive 

 looking for sanctuary and a fair go 
are we? 
don’t get me wrong 
I love all different cultures and people 

but we in our own backyard of Australia 
are looking for acknowledgement 
respect 
beyond the colour of our skin 

though nobody sees this 
we see all 
we are observing everything and everyone 
we stay patiently waiting 

for you to accept and get to know  
these pecking orders 
all the behaviours, all the differences 
all the business 

we the minority 
in our very own country 
are watching you all 
and reading your hearts 

you're all flat out worn out  
and in your own little worlds 
shall we wash you 
wring you and hang you out to dry? 

when will all you visitors understand? 
that we the minority stay waiting  
watching the world pass by 
majority of us have not travelled out of country  

why should we feel the need to? 
when we can understand your country  
from the way you behave in our country 
who made all these rules? 

certainly not my birdiya’s 
the decisions should be made on the heart of a person 
not the bank balance 
oh, but I forgot that boya does the talking.