Walking By Mai Venn Poem by Mai Murphy Venn

Walking - By Mai Venn



Desuetude under war zone skies, our homes now demoted to rubble

Bombardment as far as the eye can see, nothing left but to say farewell
As we all walk together in one direction we, meet others on the way walking, walking
In search of criminals to buy passage, on a far from safe sea craft that will take us
Though stormy weather without shelter beneath a dark, forlorn, cloudy sky
Waves that turn us back and forth and almost under
As we hold our loved one in arms to keep them warm
Waiting to see land, while fearing a salt-water grave
Coming where we are not wanted-and the walking starts
Yes, the walking starts again, and we are vagrants over strange territory
No place to call home, there is no hope left for our children-
Children from a broken country, hungry, cold, tired and scared
What do we seek? Understanding, protection and a place to live.
What do we get? Rejection, brutality, and ill-treatment
We are like the dirt under your feet
Barbed wire fences greet us on your borders: no entry
Walking is our punishment for our hardship and pain
Where is the love that clergymen speak of in church?
Is God only for some? Which way is the Promised Land?
To be or not to be a refugee? That is the question
Do you know how we feel? Do you give a damn?