We emigrated…
From countries falling apart
Colonizers broke the soul
Left the bones
So we left
Starry-eyed
Chasing shiny jobs
and clean streets
Services that work
But then we woke up
After the honeymoon
And the miss
Brings incredible pain
Kids playing barefoot in the streets
“Come over for dinner
Just drop in”
Impromptu barbeques
When life goes south
Someone shows up
Why didn’t we ever think
The cold-hearted warmongers
Would make cold-hearted communities
What the hell’s wrong with us
Moving to the country
Of the colonizer
Cold hearts, clean streets
That’s what we bought
Ran from what they did
To our culture
Straight into their arms
Cold hearts, clean streets
Was it worth it?
The price we paid
Remember, “Grin and bear it
Look north and walk forth”
We traded warmness
For sanitized distance
Neighbors who wave
But never come inside
We grew old and cold
In a foreign land
Among people who don’t
See life as we do
Away from our people
Scattered all over the world
Away from the warmth
Of poverty and loving hearts
Cold hearts, clean streets
That’s what we bought
Ran from what they did
To our culture
Straight into their arms
Cold hearts, clean streets
Was it worth it?
The price we paid
Away from good food
and joy, respect and appreciation for
Life
What can we do
To get some of that
Back
Was it worth it?