Across Breit Bridge
Two poems about the ill-treatment refugees are faced with while seeking asylum — from Congolese poet Loic Ekinga Kalonji
Across Breit Bridge
I have seen the sun pretend to know us
I have seen the sun pretend to laugh at our jokes
It smiled awkwardly and tried to wave.
What the sun did not know was that we were not ready
to let go
That we were aware of its dwindling pretense
And so, our queue was caught in darkness’ net
We moved, singlefold, towards paradise
Clutching our nervous hope
“is it true that they could send us back home?”
was heard here and there; it moved slowly among us like a smell.
I have seen a mother pretend to feed her child
I have seen her singing to it
What we did not know was that it stopped breathing a while ago
What the people did not know was that she was not ready
To let go.
What we all agree on, however, is that on our way to paradise
We tend to need to lose a yoke, dignity, pride…a baby, sometimes.
To Breathe
All we could do was breathe that afternoon
And out of nostrils, stories were told
Warmly, rapidly and loudly like our mothers
Ululate
Our hearts worn on our faces
Dressed in worry and dishonour
I’ve seen children cry for their fathers’ stained pride
Pressed down on the concrete by the immigration officer
The officer’s boot left a mark that weighed down
On their stay here in paradise
I’ve seen mothers wail in vain
At the dogs inside the officer’s soul
Packs of rabid hounds, scavenging what was left of their honour
“we don’t treat them like dogs back home!”
“we are all Africans!”
This is what you hear murmured, time and time again
This is what nobody wants to hear.
So we — too afraid to speak- breathe
Breathe
Breathe
Breathe
Breathe
Breathe in the sweet irony of asylum seeking…
Loic Ekinga Kalonji also known as L. Ekinga is a Congolese born amateur poet and storyteller currently residing in South Africa. His work focuses on healing and the human condition. You can read more of his work on his blog saysomethingloic and follow him on Twitter and follow him on Twitter @JesuisLoic_.
