Captives Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Captives

Reading of White captives
Among the Indigenous
Took me to past, village.

My past is, bitter-sweet
Since I did many things.

The time was different
As was the life's place.

Free were children
Nobody was afraid
Of abuse or murder
Or drug addiction.

Everyone was our aunt
And uncle, if was male.

Children were cousins
As well as classmates
And friends, siblings.

It is wrong to say "Time"
Since life is what is gone.

For some time, I had dog
For years, birds, to fly.

By paying I could buy
The pigeons that I liked.

There were ways to handle
The captive that purchased.

Cut feathers of their wings
Far from the skin;
Left first, second primaries
To make sure, cannot leave.

Pigeons walked like chickens
Though varied were in shape.

Matched a male with female
And let them love, flirt
Till female laid two eggs.

Before that tested them,
Kept female in my hand
The lover, headless and
Devoted, moved on me
To inform: "I miss her."

Neared time for hatching
Or the chicks appearing;
Pulled most of feathers
From their umbilicus.

Saw the love tendency,
Partners to their kids
Which was too strong
To keep in, not depart.

The love and family
Act as chain or a wall
On the wrist or ankles
As do cement, metals.

Let male, now full fledged,
Capable to fly very high,
To soar in the sky…

Soon came back to the cage.

Kept laughing when I read
Of captives, Indigenous'…

Captives were adopted
And married to a girl.

Love made them crazy
For wife and family;
Whites became a member
Or part of colony,
Whatever, Ojibwa to Cree.