My deficit list

In speaking of children from racialised backgrounds, some people have a tendency to engage in a lot of regretful sighing and head shaking. These 'sad moments' are sometimes accompanied by declarations that these children come 'with very little'. of what? I am tempted to ask, and sometimes do. If they are in deficit, then so am I. Here is my life of what I lack. 

I come with very little

Haven't skiied downhill

Nor snowboarded

Skates aren't for me

Neither are beaver tails

I come with very little

Haven't cheered at hockey games

Guzzled beer at dawn

Or been to The Cottage- just one ?

I come with very little

I just have my memories 

Of countless years

in this ancient Land

Memories

Of smudging

snowshoes

And Grandfather Teachings

Honouring the land

And reading the stars

For signs of travel

And being Me

those who

Came after 

Have others 

Of mogra and mungphali

Sitar and savera

Ghazals and Goa

Boat rides in Nha Trang

Sentosa sunsets

Dharavi tears

And Naigaum rain 

Lucknow kurtas

And K Rustom icecream

Parsi Dairy ni lassi

And Swagat bhel

Amma's fish curry

And Kavlem peace

I 

come

With 

Very 

Little

You think

And I chuckle

Shake my head 

At how

Little you know

Of

Other worlds. 

Rashmee Karnad-Jani 

2014 (c)