Page 49 - Poems by Alyson Malach - Childhood to Adulthood

Li� the load shed a light.

Li� the load, shed the light.

I fear going to sleep at night.

I fear for me, I fear for you.

Because our skin colour determines how we live and what we can do

We can’t walk safely outside of the home.

We can’t freely cycle run or roam.
If we do, we may get stopped.

Fortunately, we are living in the UK, otherwise we may get shot.

I have felt depressed, and deep inside, down in the dumps.

Watching George Floyd die and listening to heartless Donald Trump.
I am human, I feel, I have empathy, and I care.

I live my life just like you, I have love to share.

Stop minimising my lived experiences, stop pu�ng me down.

Don’t pull your face, roll your eyes, tut, or frown.

When I tell you that I am scared, afraid for my life.

Struggling to get through racism, troubles, and strife.

I will speak up; I will speak out.

I will educate you on what racism is about.

Don’t be complicit, don’t turn the other way.

Listen, act, and emphasise with what I have to say.

Racism is rife, racism is bad.

Racism has depressed me, stripped me of my smile and made me sad.

Alyson

48 | P a g e