I see her — a small, brown woman pushing
a baby carriage behind a white woman;
sadness envelopes my heart, weep I say
will my weeping free her or console her?
I see their passive faces
wanting to disappear and hide their faces
educated women, forced to flee the
poverty and bleak future at home.
I wonder what she is thinking
fear of people laughing and feeling sorry for her
JUST A NANNY, a maid, must comply to
her master’s wishes/commands or
be sent back to her past from which
she is trying to run away.
Hush, hush
Silence
Yes, Ma’am Yes, Sir
Anything I can do for you?
My children ask me.
“Mom, why do you call Philippines home?
You live here, Canada is your home.”
I wonder why …
In my silence, a stranger asked
“Where did you come from?”
Colour immigrants, trying to survive
“Go back to your own country,
you’re stealing our jobs.”
History speaks loudly
head tax on Chinese
internment camps for Japanese
Let’s keep Canada white
I see the future
My children all grown-up
born and raised in Canada
A stranger asks them
“Where did you come from?”
Lidwina Bautista.
