2020 School Magazine

Interconnection, Madeleine Xavier (11G)

WORTH THE WHILE

Her house wakes up with the sun, to the scent of sweet chai and little feet on the run. Her house, filled with the hiss of the pressure cooker and the steady beat of the tab/a as she took her mind off the harsh words they throw at her. Her house, whose four walls stand tall holding against the lashing rain which pounds her from above. Her house, her sanctuary of love, of life, of joy, her escape from the world which never fails to deploy, The missiles of misunderstanding, and the bombs of brutality. Shoving her down, snapping her crown all because her skin is brown. For she has been raised in multitudes, her earliest memories of flashing sparklers at Diwali and splashing friends at pool parties Of gulab/’am un and chocolate almonds, netball passes and Bharatanatyam classes. But as she grew older, she began to take note, of the creeping prejudice she faced on the rote. The whispers and laughter, the stares and the jeers, as she looks down at her lunch, the cold punch of loneliness takes root in her heart. And so she folds in on herself, staving silent, Iest they notice her accent, their contempt transcends the crumbling barriers that protect her self-respect. Her chest aching of lost power, as the clock ticks her darkest hour, the name calling, her tears falling, Just as hope seems lost - A warm hand reaches to empower And all it took was an open mind, a kind word and a ready smile, To make her feel like she was worth the while. Vani Ranjan (8G) WINNER OF THE MARY ALEXIS MACMILLAN PRIZE FOR LYRIC AND POETRY

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