Flashback to a Poem I Wrote in 1998- Lost Identity

Lost Identity

By: Christine McFarlane

Feeling lost

in the society

I've lived in all my life

never feeling

as though

I've truly belonged

Feeling lost

living on the fringes

of what society is

today

Feeling lost

My forefathers

came before me

I am Indian

I rightfully belong

here on this earth

Culturally

I am lost

Lost to the western world

I don't know

my people, 

my language

or my heritage

To someone

walking by

I look like just another

person going through

their life

coping as best as they can

But little does

anyone know

I feel like an outsider

lost in the fringes

Questions go unanswered

I have feelings of deep despair

crying on the inside

laughing on the outside

when I can even manage that

Feeling lost

in today's society

Will I

ever find myself

my true identity?

1998

(Personal Note: When I went and visited my mom this past month, she lent me a copy of a 28 page book of poetry that I made in 1998. I brought the book home, and made a few copies. I wanted to share this one, because I believe it is indicative of my healing journey, where I was and how I felt. I can now say I know who I am, its amazing what a few years can do after much hard work)