To survive

To Survive 
Under great duress 

In my difference 

I once fled 

after each day 

on the field of struggle 

- and orders 

From contact 

- human, divine, animal 

and most of all

from the 

self centred contempt 

from the powerful 

towards me and mine. 

Then, 

in my differences 

under great but 

different duress, 

I quested 

in my personal 

post-work world 

for my quests 

all once denied 

by those 

- great and small 

who laid claim

on time of mine

and blood, sweat, 

toil and talent 

And now

- still different 

still divergent of 

of brain and quest 

and values, mores, 

and truths, 

I am come 

to realise 

cannon fodder still 

am I ... 

with no claim to 

time, blood, 

sweat, toil, 

nor talent 

- none 

yet are mine. 

 

Copyright © Kayleen White, Wiradjuri and Widjabul-Wiabol woman of the Lost Generations, 2025 (where this date is different to the year of publication, it is because I did the post some time ago and then used the scheduling feature to delay publication). I take these photographs and undertake these writings – and the sharing of them – for the sake of my self expression. I am under no particular illusions as to their literary or artistic merit, and ask only that any readers do not have any undue expectations. If you consider me wrong, then publish me – with full credit and due financial recompense, of course :) 

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