I AM NOT LIKE YOU
An immigrant's refrain
Immigrating to another land, takes its toll on the immigrant. You leave the place you’ve known all your life. As bad as that place may be, it’s where you have all your childhood memories, your friends and family. That place and everything that happened to you up to the time you left helped shape you into the person you are. You were familiar with all the nuances of that place. You understood the unwritten rules. You knew the culture. You were aware of how to behave in certain situations. That place was home.
Now, in another land, you must relearn all those things. Some will be slightly similar, others different than what you’re accustomed to. Add in the burden of not speaking the language of the place you immigrated to and it’s just another layer of complexity. Suddenly the very things that made you homogeneous in your home country make you stand out here. Your hair, your skin colour, the way you interact with people - all these things now serve to betray that “you’re not from here.” Believe me when I tell you, that is not always a positive experience.
I am not like you I may not speak your language I might not look like you These things are superficial Of no intrinsic real value You might not like my cooking You might not like my dress These things are insignificant They are not meant to impress I might not know your customs Your norms or your traditions But that does not disqualify me Or place me under suspicion. We all bring to the table Rich and varied cultures If only we give ourselves the chance We can learn from each other For we have more in common Than our anatomy The thread that really binds us Is our humanity Please take my hand my fellowman Let’s build our country together If we can see past our differences Our future will be better
Bio: Brian Sankarsingh is a Trinidadian-born Canadian immigrant who moved to Canada in the 1980s. He describes himself as an accidental poet, with a passion for advocacy and a penchant for prose, an unapologetic style, he offers his poetry as social and political commentary.
“…Or place me under suspicion.” What a powerful line, just a few words, but enormous implications.
I really appreciate the introductions provided (with this and previous poems), and how they set the scene to receive and understand the poem that follows.