Brown Girl on A Train From Toronto to Ottawa
Soni Dasmohapatra

A layer of skin is all it takes

To shatter dreams of a far away place

Brown, black, yellow, red

Go back to where you came from

Don’t steal our bread

We stole yours a long time ago

But let us forget that

It is time move forward

Racism wears an invisible hat

Silly me, I think

To believe equality exists

That is just a notion

A fairy tale, a myth

My history is silenced

My tale is not told

Canada is cold and plastic

How can I dare to be bold

From East to West

North to South

Spirits scream

They want to be let out

Shhh, be very quiet

If you listen

You can only begin to understand their pain

Be open to their vision

White is always right

White is pure

White is a beautiful sight

White has no fear

Brown is ugly

Brown is weak

Brown is a shady character

Brown destroys all as we speak

Who wrote this tale?

Why is it this way?

Is history a lie…

Who truly has nothing good to say?

Time and time again

Colour can not be free

Colour lurks in white shadows

Colour restricts me

In a world of dichotomy’s

My duality is common

A South Asian girl

On the path to become a woman

How this unfolds

Society dictates

However I need to be strong

In order to find my true place

Not a place given to me

But a place that I create

On my terms to live a life

Where I can challenge history face to face

I will write a story, sing a song

Voice the truth

Expose the apple, take a bite

There is no room here for forbidden fruit

Debunk the myth

Unravel the lie

Shed a tear for humanity

So many eyes in the world right now are cold and dry

My voice is small

But I vow

I am here to serve my purpose

Are you able to hear me now?

Look inside you

Did you see?

There is a piece of your thoughts, emotions or story

That are reflected in these words that are me.

Soni Dasmohapatra is the Youth / Community Development Coordinator at the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians.