Refugee Woman

I am a performance poet and poetry workshop leader and I recently ran a series of workshops with refugee women from Somalia and Eritrea to empower and raise confidence.

During one session the group came up with a list of words under the heading of:
‘What is Good About Being A Woman?’

The words on their list inspired me to write this poem.

Refugee Woman

What’s so different
About being a refugee
What makes you so
Different to me.

You are a mother
And I am too
We both might wear make-up
And love sparkly shoes
With silver or gold
Our shapely bodies we adorn
We all weep with joy
When our babies are born.

You are bold and brave
Through troubles and strife
I’ve had to be strong to
Move forward in my life
Sensitive, kind
With a good loving heart
Wearing colourful clothes
Who could tell us apart?

So I ask you

What’s so different
About being a refugee
What makes you so
Different to me?

Contributed by Doreen Baidoo.