colonizer, you have taken my tongue
and i can only express my grief
through the words imposed onto me
before i had even opened my eyes
colonizer, i cannot take your tongue
and will it skillfully like my white peers
if academia deems my voice to be comedy,
is that not itself a tragedy?
colonizer, your tongue in my mouth
your language in my identity
respected parasite in unfit body
the only thing i will ever know
Georgine Revilloza is a student pursuing her MA in English, the Literature Graduate Assistant at Central Connecticut State University’s Writing Center, and, of course, a writer. When (she thinks) no one is paying attention to her, she will often be window shopping for cute things out of her price range.