TW: MMIWG2S

THE BROKEN WORLD

In the beginning, 

Our land and people were once joyous 

The New World was sought after. 

But we are no longer filled with laughter 

3% of the population are my sisters. 

67% of them I have lost. 

We didn’t know how much it would cost. 

What do you have to say? 

Having to hear the screams 

of Anishinaabekwe 

But standing just beyond reach. 

And we know you're capable of speech 

What would you say?  

If every family, you knew 

had a sister ripped from 

Mshiinkenh Minising 

Something? Anything? 

Do you feel sorrow, 

For The Broken World? 

Personal Analysis

I wrote this in my English writing course in my first semester of Uni. As perfect as it clearly is not, this poem still holds so much truth. As an intelligent, curious Indigenous woman I have the unfortunate proclivity to be very passionate in the wrong ways. I was very proud of this because as one of the only brown students in my Creative writing seminar I felt the need to address issues that were not being drawn into light through the readings or lecturing.

I was really excited to be able to hand this in because for once, a poem I wrote didn't seem like forced emotions or the uncomfortable string between sentences. In this poem, I connected my home language to create this feeling of wisdom and truth that hangs in the air after you're done reading.

xo, kat