What do they say to my children?

What do they say to my children?

once the doors are closed

and the bell rings, 

and I leave to cook and clean

I wonder when

I come back at noon with a hot lunch

and wait patiently listening

to words I understand

yet I cannot speak in, or scream in 

even when I want to

so I nod and smile

and they smile back

some of them look like me 

and I wonder do they step in 

when my children hurt

do they fight or even speak up, or walk away

when people laugh at my child's ignorance

or habits, that he doesn't shop at The Bay

or the smell of curry on his jacket?

I wonder who speaks for my child when I am not there

From school back home, I remember the sting 

on my hand from the cane

but here, 

they say they don't hit children now

thought they did long ago

 

so that is good, yeah?

yet I see the light go from my child's eyes

every year,

far away

and I know but cannot ask

and he, I know, will never tell

If he cries to me

I say to him

Ignore, try harder

this is for your good maybe

as that is what I was told

and the ones who stay with him, many

does she speak, I wonder, 

the one who looks like me

or the one with the kind eyes

Or maybe she too is silenced, 

for different reasons: of pay, 

or pain 

or for friendship 

What do they say to my children I wonder

when I leave him with strangers who

started out like me

and are now way up high

 

What do they say to them and about me

what do they say about my children, I wonder

What do they say yo yours?

Do you wonder too, my sister?