John-Ward Leighton

PLACE

Photo ©Copyright 2010 by John-Ward Leightonwhere do I belong
what place belongs to my face
where is the there, there
when I dream where is the dream

a house, a community, a town,
a city, a province, a country
a belief, a church
a nationality

the politics of place
a politics of race and language
the burden of history
versus the politics of change

who are we
what do we look like
what do we believe
how do we adjudicate differences

how are we governed
is there any justice
and if so, what kind
is there any equality

do our borders matter
is chaos in other places
a reason for mass immigration
to destroy the living standard of the present inhabitants

when I dream
where am I
can I name the
place