Poem of the Month: Welcome to My Country — Anonymous

“Welcome to My Country, Let Me Show You Around” is a poem by a friend, her first ever poem, so I thought I’d share it with you too.

Tre Ventour
Nov 3 · 3 min read
Photo by Allie Smith on Unsplash

Welcome to my country

Let me show you around

I wanna introduce you to the local bakeries

I wanna introduce you to the colonisers, racists and brexiteers

but these are all just the basics.

Welcome to my country

where the phrase

go back to your country

is used more than “c’mon pet, let’s retire to Benidorm.”

But I’m sure you’ll agree, this isn’t contradictory in any form.

Welcome to my country

Where the question why does your hair grow upwards?

is asked simultaneously as the self-invite to touch it

because it’s different, because its weird

and let’s just admit it, you’re just a misfit.

So don’t react — just giggle.

You wouldn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.

The colour of your skin does that already.

Welcome to my country

Where immigrants and refugees don’t belong

but the locals and the natives indulge

in the nearest Bella Italias and Nando’s

Photo by Emily Bauman on Unsplash

Welcome to my country

where everyone loves Will Smith and Beyoncé

but don’t be ridiculous, they’re not savages

they don’t count, they’re the exception

they receive a different reception

Beyoncé, we adore, but the thought of a Black Neighbour —

we might have to move cus that’s, like — a deal breaker

Welcome to my country

where the weekend activities include visiting museums

filled with filtered historic stories

and artefacts from other countries

A child asks:

“Mummy, where did this shiny rock come from?”

Mummy replies with a lie

“We found it in a different country.”

“Mummy try again, and be honest”

“We borrowed it from a different country.”

“Mummy try again and be honest”

“We stole it from a different country.”

“Mummy try again and this time be honest”

“Okay,” Mummy says:

We colonised several countries and took everything of value

is more important than another country’s culture and tranquility

Photo by Grant Ritchie on Unsplash

Welcome to my country

where if you cover your hair, arms and legs —

you’re a threat

you’re a threat

you’re a threat

but still continue to look and behave differently

You’re a threat

Mummy says, “It’s okay.”

“Just know — we found it in a different country.”

A country that’s not ours.

Tre Ventour

Written by

Writer, poet, freelance journalist, activist — interested in: representation, diversity, inclusion + unwhitewashing history one article at a time

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