Razor Wire Childhood

By Rodney Williams | 14 May 19
Poem by Rodney Williams Right Now

before a royal commission

one sketch:

this girl’s face

behind bars

her hair and clothes

black

all her tears

from blue eyes

bleeding red

 

 

without yuletide

gifts at christmas

island

no matter

the faith

to which she was born

there was just

one present

she’d prayed for


You can read more about the inspiration for this poem in the article Detained children risk life-long physical and mental harm on The Conversation.