Greetings …
Our consciences have been awakened recently to the plight of many who are not like us
… people who have suffered ongoing prejudice, often systemic in nature, because of the
colour of their skin.
Sunday 14 June marks the beginning of Refugee Week. The poem below was written for
Refugee Week in 2018 by Brian Bilston, and makes you think. Once you have read it
from top to bottom make sure you read it from bottom to top.
Refugees
They have no need of our help
So do not tell me
These haggard faces could belong to you or me
Should life have dealt a different hand
We need to see them for what they really are
Chancers and scroungers
Layabouts and loungers
With bombs up their sleeves
Cut-throats and thieves
They are not
Welcome here
We should make them
Go back to where they came from
They cannot
Share our food
Share our homes
Share our countries
Instead let us
Build a wall to keep them out
It is not okay to say
These people are just like us
A place should only belong to those who are born there
Do not be stupid to think that
The world can be looked at another way
Remember: Now read it from bottom to top.
I wonder if there is greater potential for things to change when we don’t just wait for
rewritten policies at government level, but when our attitudes change from the ground up.
Blessings – Heather.