Our Uncles and Old Girls
how might such lonely stolen children move through the world

without roots          without direction

what types of poison might fill such voids
well, well, well
if they took my parents and siblings from me and demanded my gratitude

if they stole my world

if they robbed me of my birthright and made fortunes from my sorrows    
I would set the world on fire

I would burn it to the ground
if my long lost mum and sister died before we were reunited

if I were only allowed one visit with my niece and nephew

right at the end of my long and lonely life          much too little and far too late     
I would take any spark of forgiveness to the grave

let it never see the light of day
our old people were not allowed to be angry          I carry this rage for them
and though my old people are now all dead

I keep their memory front and centre of all I do

I write to promise them I will not forget – will never forgive,

as long as I live – on behalf of all of us
time does not distance us          everything accumulates

their sorrow and rage compressed deep within me like time

sedimentary layers of heartache and horror

and my own grows hard and heavy on top of theirs



Mykaela Saunders

10th of February, 2025