215 Children
Christine Jamieson, Montreal, P.Q.
Volume 35 Issue 4, 5 & 6 | Posted: July 8, 2021
215 children
Born into a world of beauty, relationship, struggle, hardship
The ancestors blessed them
The parents welcomed them
The grandparents adored them
The aunties and uncles brought gifts
215 children
Who are you? The parents asked
Tell me who you are?
The grandparents waited and observed
The aunties loved and caressed
The ancestors knew and let them grow
215 children
running, laughing, hungry, thirsty
the land is your mother, she will nourish you
the trees are your mentors, they will guide you
the moose are your brothers, they will protect you
the deer are your sisters, they will comfort you
215 children
no, no, I was wrong
no one protected you when they came
they took you and your parents cried
they captured you and your grandparents stared
they stole you and your aunties and uncles looked away abjected
your ancestors lamented and lamented and lamented
215 children
. . . dead
and no one knew
Christine Jamieson, Montreal, P.Q.