Miscegenation
Which box do I tick?
Am I the Afro-Caribbean
of my mother?
Sweet fiery jerk spice
of slave forefathers.
Am I the Asian of my father?
Melding of chile and coconut,
Tamil sambol,
snatched coolie of the tea plantation.
Aren’t I British?
London born,
Chicken Tikka Masala
bastard curry and gravy concoction.
Add jerk rice to be authentically palatable.
England, my England
How I long to love you.
Born on your shores
I yearn to sing your name
as hymn.
Each time my embrace is repelled.
I am the bastard child
born of unheralded history.
Each time I complain
I am told to leave.
What way to repay
lifetimes of service?
England, oh England
I implore you:
acknowledge my blood is yours.
Country of:
Turkish saint,
Germanic royals,
Roman roads,
a mix of blood
to mirror my own.