Saturday 4 June 2016

First Steps (June 4, 2016)

My Dearest
Brothers and Sisters;

These bitter-sweet tears
That you see
Flowing down
My face.

Are
In honour
Of your healing
And the ability
To celebrate
Your true self.

For too long
You have suffered
With the stigma
Of being Aboriginal
And LGBT+.

Of having
Your culture
And heritage
Destroyed.

In the racist belief
By doing so
We're advancing
You.

Casting you
Adrift
Without 
A sense of self-worth
Or self-value.

Something
I can relate to
All too well.

As
I struggle
With the same fight.

Please accept
These words
I offer.

As a sign
That true healing
Can begin
For all of us.

Therisa © 2016

Author's note: As Attawapiskat, the northern Ontario community, has been struggling with mass suicide attempts, among its population, I felt, the need to share, this positive healing article, with the world. To read this article, please click on the link:

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Each of us needs that kind of support and acceptance to survive. For those not understood by the culture at-large, even more so. This should be shared with them. Peace.

brudberg said...

This is a great tribute to those who are double exposed... I just hope things will change for the better. After all tolerance is increasing.

Therisa's World said...

Thank you, and do hope, it is.

Therisa's World said...

Thank you, Bjorn. Not fast enough, given, the amount of healing that needs to be accomplished, here.

Buddah Moskowitz said...

Thanks for sharing this poem - may it help with the healing. Your poems are also so heartfelt. - Mosk

Therisa's World said...

Your welcome, and thank you, Buddah.

Pleasant Street said...

You are a kind person, with kind words

Anonymous said...

Yes, thank you for sharing this. I knew nothing of this terrible situation, and I needed to know. This is about humanity.

Grace said...

May the awakening and healing continues for all of us ~

Sanaa Rizvi said...

Such a thoughtful write, Therisa.

Lots of love,
Sanaa

Arcadia Maria said...

Great and thoughtful poem.

Unknown said...

An important and empathetic message, we are all connected. The health and wellbeing of each precious individual is important.

lillianthehomepoet.wordpress.com said...

There is value and love in every life. This I believe.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

You are a good thoughtful person. If only the world was filled with similar folk it would be quite a nice place to be.
Anna :o]

tonispencer said...

Excellent poem for Pride. And we are all connected whether we like to think it or not. I hope the healing does help your family and ease your heart.

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