Last Friday we celebrated Orange Shirt Day at Dogwood. As part of our language arts studies surrounding this important day, the students of divisions 1 and 2 read picture books about Residential Schools. Students worked in groups to create found poems based on their books. Each group had the opportunity to present their poem with the whole group. We were impressed with the powerful messages and feelings these poems left us with. They made us realize the importance of Orange Shirt Day and recognize that we must remember the past to create a better future.
One, Two, Three
One, two, three
Her voice travelled from tree to tree
No matter where you go, no matter what you do
I want you to remember
Please keep my memories and my family safe
I will remember everything
One, two three
It’s time for you to go
I am not a Number
Never forget who I am
I am not a number
I couldn’t let go
I can’t escape
Please don’t hurt me
I yelped in pain
The worst was still to come
Haunted by images
My heart sank
A part of me was dying
Never forget what I am
When I was Eight
When I was eight
Black cloaked nun
Hiding my fear
Muscles ached
Reluctantly shutting out all light
Hasty escape
A scream built in my chest, but I held it in
She couldn’t wear out my determination
There is no stopping me
I am not a Number
I am not a number
The dark figure backlit by the sun
The nightmares began
Make sure to rub the brown off
Please don’t hurt me
Hot coals
I blew gently on the red welt
I wanted to scream
Now I felt as if a part of me was dying
We cant have you messing with the outside world
The tiny spark of safety died
You’ll never take them
I’ve thought about you everyday
Why are we treated so cruelly?
Why must I change?
One, Two, Three
One, two, three
Her voice travelled from tree to tree
No matter where you go, no matter what you do
I want you to remember
Please keep my memories and my family safe
I will remember everything
One, two three
It’s time for you to go
I am not a Number
Never forget who I am
I am not a number
I couldn’t let go
I can’t escape
Please don’t hurt me
I yelped in pain
The worst was still to come
Haunted by images
My heart sank
A part of me was dying
Never forget what I am
When I was Eight
When I was eight
Black cloaked nun
Hiding my fear
Muscles ached
Reluctantly shutting out all light
Hasty escape
A scream built in my chest, but I held it in
She couldn’t wear out my determination
There is no stopping me
I am not a Number
I am not a number
The dark figure backlit by the sun
The nightmares began
Make sure to rub the brown off
Please don’t hurt me
Hot coals
I blew gently on the red welt
I wanted to scream
Now I felt as if a part of me was dying
We cant have you messing with the outside world
The tiny spark of safety died
You’ll never take them
I’ve thought about you everyday
Why are we treated so cruelly?
Why must I change?