Dispossessed

Dispossessed

We embarked on this pilgrimage
to the promised land beyond the treacherous seas,
true believers, steadfast in our faith,

Dreaming of placing trust
in our adopted homeland; thought
life would no longer be cheap, easily snatched:

Did not reckon death had so many paths,
so many notions of justice and redemption.

What are you after?
Our souls are sick, moving from harbour to harbour.

To know itself a soul must look into its own soul.

We knew the islands were beautiful
when we stowed ourselves, leaving the rest to God,
praying to the imortal sea to bring us here.

Our country is closed in; our days clouded by war.
At night fear rose like the moon
spreading its shroud over death and hunger.

We came here believing in freedom,
believing if we wished it long and hard enough
our dreams will turn into reality.

Our history a mascot we carried in our hearts.

We did not expect a miracle,
we did not look back---
have we not paid enough?

If you need more
take us,
whatever is left of our dreams, our possessions;
only spare our children, our future.....

Shanta Acharya, Associate Director, Initiative on Foundation
and Endowment Asset Management at London School of Business.