THE CHILDREN

by Alisha Rodrigues

The Missionaries came for the children.
Took them far off for schooling.
Cut their hair
Dressed them in white man’s clothes.
Named them
Joe, Mary, Frank, Joan
Children must speak only English
or get a ruler across the knuckles.
But the children remember their stories.
The children go home strong of mind.
Shed the white man’s ways
Remain as they were,
The People.

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