Yours

When everything is torn away from you,
when the tapestry of your life is unraveled thread by thread, 
what is yours to hold?

Your name,
the one with a cultural meaning that has become heavily shadowed, 
is not yours anymore.
That was one of the first things they replaced.

Your native language is not yours, either.
Seclusion and shame are now the price to pay for speaking your mother tongue.

Your clothing is not even yours, 
all garments of a foreign land.
They are constricting and unfamiliar.

Your education is no longer yours,
as they've changed the school system to only serve them.

You are left with nothing and cannot hold on to anything.
The tapestry has been ripped to shreds and is thought to be beyond repair.

How could you maintain your sense of identity, 
when they proclaim it's not yours anymore?
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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

Agustin Avatar
November 18, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Welcome to Poetry Soup. I welcome you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace