It Could Have Been Me
It could have been me
I am white, privileged, Christian, educated and wealthy
I am married with children, young, fit and healthy
But what if I was born into a different family
Pushed down by the weight of different social gravity
It could have been me born as a black child
Ripped and jibed for the colour of my skin
Sticking for safety with the brothers of my kin
With my head on the ground under the knee
That could have been you or it could have been me
It could have been me born with something not ‘normal’
Where the genetics go wrong and I am born with a ‘barrier’
Or my parents do drugs, or drink I become the carrier
With my hands driving wheels or holding a stick
Whilst being called names like ‘stupid’ and ‘thick’
It could have been me not fancying girls
Being teased in the street for holding hands with a boy
With names thrown my way for others to enjoy
Looking for help when I’m attacked in the street
Because of where I might go and who I might meet
It could have been me immigrating for work
Escaping the life of my country’s condition
Finding it hard to make a family decision
Living off wages that don’t match the hour
As the English men laugh I worry and cower
It could have been me born as a different religion
Being taught different ways to believe and behave
Being shown different ways to do right and be saved
If I don’t know I’m wrong how can I change?
You persecute and discriminate thinking I’m strange
It could have been me with no money for dinner
Pursuing the means to make the ends meet
Whilst trying to buy the right shoes for my feet
Not having the right phone or the right hair
Seeing the others thinking how is this fair?
Should I discriminate? Should I be mean?
Thinking about all the bad stuff I’ve seen
It could have been me who drew a raw deal
Perhaps we should think more about how others might feel.
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment