Drawing Lines in Divided Times

Boundaries.
Is that what you see
When you take a peek at me? 
In the corner of your eyes 
Does my presence provoke you 
And make you feel perturbed inside? 
Does the shape of my face 
Make you think of the indigenous people? 
Abused neglected and tormented 
For no reason of their own 
But because of their love for the land. 
Do we belong in boxes with lines? 
You see so many borders 
Around all the places, races, sexes, and ages.

Do you ever wonder 
Where boundaries began and why? 

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This is a spoken-word style piece questioning boundaries. Why do they exist? 

I am part Indigenous (Chakma tribe) and part South Asian. I was never truly accepted by South Asian community as their own because on the outside I look more Indigenous. 

I have felt the prejudice of the word “boundaries” in many facets of my life. On the other hand, this word can mean the space or line that divides a healthy interdependent relationship. For the first time in my life I am learning to embrace my own boundaries to keep my truth alive and stand for what I believe in. This is how I embraced writing and the role of spoken-word style of poetry in my life.

I am a TCA. I was only a year old when my parents left their native land. By the time I turned twenty, I had lived in 4 continents, 6 countries, 8 cities and had gone to 8 different schools. I became an expert at losing people and cities. I know all about the global boundaries that divide the Human Race.