Your winters have surprised us, though the coldness of your hearts is legend.
You cannot make us leave; you will not.
This was no elective pilgrimage; we’ve been abandoned at sea and trudged miles to escape persecution for our race, our heritage.
Poverty and hunger has stalked us like a wolf through the forest; your indifference is as nothing to us now.
Chance – not justice – placed us in our country at birth, and you in yours.
We have only one life, for God’s sake; is it so arrogantly presumptuous of us to wish to live as you do?
I’m not expressing any kind of political or social conviction here; I’m disinclined to use this forum for such a complex issue. It’s simply an attempt to “walk a hundred words in someone else’s shoes”. Thanks to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers. Someone has to do it, and I can think of no better, more dedicated person for the task. Long may you reign, Rochelle. 🙂 And thanks for choosing my photo this week.
castelsarrasin 
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With my mind stuck on Odin and his crowd, I at first took this to be an outcry against God–or the gods. But an outcry against others in a land makes sense too. Interesting snippet. I especially like “the coldness of your hearts is legend.”
Thanks for the photo this week! It took me to some new places.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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Glad you liked it Marie Gail.
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Sandra, I love this. I’m sure these words could have been said by many peoples who have been kidnapped from their warm lands and brought to cold ones. At least that’s what I got from it. I love the last line. If only we had that much empathy for our fellow humans, the world would be a lot better.
-David
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Thanks David. Glad you liked it. It’s an emotive subject, wherever or whenever it’s appropriate.
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This spoke volumes for me.. and as you said we had similar thoughts.. indeed there is not a choice, and we need to be able to understand that.. For now I think walking in somebody else’s shoes is just enough..
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Thanks for reading Bjorn. It’s a thorny issue, but one that should involve us all in finding a solution.
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Sandra, your story rings true for more than a single group of people and presenting it the way you did allows it many applications. Well done!
janet
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Thanks Janet, glad you liked it.
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So much past, present and future packed in this and I feel that is the greatest tragedy your story offers. Marvelously crafted, as usual.
Thank you for your photo, it offered an inspiration for the tale I wasn’t expecting.
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History has a way of repeating itself, sadly. Thanks for reading.
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It saddens me that this can be used to describe so many troubles of the past and more disturbingly of the present.
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Plus ca change. (Never could get a cedilla into WordPress) Thanks for visiting Dawn.
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Lovely photo, Sandra… And such a thought provoking story to go along with it. Well done 🙂
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Thanks Rachel, on both counts. 🙂
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Really thought provoking. I’ve read it several times. Thanks for the photo
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Thank you. Glad you liked the photo.
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This lovely/tragic. I read into it the hostility faced by asylum seekers by many in the host countries.
(Nice pic.)
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It was inspired by the prospect of running the gauntlet on the port approach at Calais last week. It’s a disturbing sight.
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I’m up for anything which would likely annoy Nigel Farage and the UKIP loonies i.e. this. Mind you as a Scot I too am starting to feel the sting of a xenophobic media. Strange times ahead.
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Indeed. 🙂
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THIS is real. Probably one of your best pieces for the way you told it, with just the right dose, up till the end, really liked it, and so sincere and honest.
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Thank you Hamish. 🙂
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Lovely piece, Sandra. I thought of all the people coming from countries where they fear for their lives. It’s often on TV and in the newpapers and is a timely topic. Well done, and thianks again for the lovely picture. — Suzanne
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Thank you Suzanne. Glad you liked it.
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“Chance – not justice…” rings so true to me. It is all one big cosmic crap shoot and it would serve us well to remember we are not exclusively entitled to our liberties. Very well-done..
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‘Cosmic crap shoot’ – such a graphic phrase. Thanks for reading Barbara. 🙂
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Dear Sandra,
Your time walking is well spent for you captured the essence of man in those footsteps. Why can we not just leave each other alone and live in peace? What is it about man that is so unkind to perceived outsiders? I do not know but do not doubt. We are our own worst enemies.
Beautiful story, well told.
Aloha,
Doug
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As we say around here, “you’re leaning against an open door there, Doug”. Thanks for reading, glad you liked it.
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Such aggression and power in the decisions made. Nicely done.
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Power doesn’t always reside with those who deserve it, sadly.
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Dear Sandra,
So many races and ethnic groups could claim this as their anthem. Well said, well written as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for reading and commenting Rochelle, glad you liked it.
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I couldn’t help but wonder if you had the story in mind when you took this photo? As always, a beautiful story you’ve here.
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Thank you. No, I took the photo a while back and Rochelle saw it on FB and asked if she could use it. Although I often do take photos where I think I could hang a story round it. 🙂
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This rings true for so many people around the world. The voice of your story is very strong and you really have made every word count. I particularly like ‘Poverty and hunger has stalked us like a wolf through the forest’
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Thanks Siobhan, glad you liked it.
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You walk so well in other people’s shoes. This is so beautiful and sad, I try to remind myself often how priviledged I am to live without war, without fear…
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I only wish I did! Thanks for reading.
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People have always moved place to place, sometimes from need, sometimes adventure. The clash of cultures is not always pleasant. You captured that extremely well in 100 words.
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We’ve lived in several countries and have in the main been made to feel welcome. But the odd occasions when we haven’t do tend to stick in the mind. Thanks for reading Alicia.
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Well written Sandra! Full of feeling! Thank you for the inspiring photo and I hope that you check out my story! Be well… ^..^
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I’m hoping to get round them all before the weekend is over Babs. Thanks for visiting.
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Lovely piece. It made me think immediately of the poor people who climb on the boats and try to make their way across the Mediterranean to Italy and similar places.
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Yes, we frequently read of them being abandoned and now that the search and rescue facility has been dropped many more are failing to survive. Thanks for reading.
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i can relate to this. as they say, when in rome, do as the romans do. if it isn’t to your liking, change your liking. that’s the only way to survive.
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I can think of some groups who could do to observe that maxim. Thanks for reading.
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Pingback: Friday Fictioneers: Dawn | Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist)
This brings home the plight of the refugees of whom we hear every day in the news stories.
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Yes, some of the tales are indeed quite tragic.
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A beautiful prompt, Sandra, that seems to have brought out quite a few stories about discrimination… interesting. I NEVER read other stories, before writing my own, and find the similar tones fascinating. Unlike you, I ran all over this topic, on this forum. :-p
I love the way you used subtle language but clear story telling to make such a powerful point. The use of first person narrative, spoken so plainly and mournfully– yet, with a determination and strength that makes the story that much sadder. Really fantastic.
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Thank you Dawn, glad you liked it. I hope to get to yours quite shortly.
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I do feel as though I walked in someone else’s shoes. If only they could be met with compassion. Lovely writing, Sandra. Thanks for the photo!
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My pleasure Amy, and thanks for visiting.
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Sadly this is a history that could be applied to many races and I totally agree if people would put themselves in their shoes they would do what they could to have a pleasant family life in safe surroundings. It really is a matter of where you are lucky enough to be born. Lovely sentiments – if only the world would listen.
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The accident of birth never fails to interest me, Irene. Thanks for reading.
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So powerful Sandra, and beautifully written.
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Thank you Claire. 🙂
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It’s as though you place every word with tweezers. And the photo you took is very haunting, especially to women I’m sure. That stump represents so much. Writing is a wonderful thing.
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That’s an interesting concept, Susannah. Sometimes I do take so much care with a piece that it almost feels like ‘placing words with tweezers’. And other times I’m less meticulous, sadly. 😉 Thank you for reading.
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I’ve only read two but the words to me, felt specially selected. Whether true or not, that’s what it seems like to me.
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That first line was fantastic – drew me right in. Well done.
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Thank you!
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This is a sobering story. So many people are landless, and not welcomed in the places fate, or desperation, or ill-fortune, bring them to. Movingly told. Thanks for the great picture.
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Thanks for reading Margaret. 🙂
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Pingback: Friday Fictioneers — Troll | Sarah Potter Writes
you speak for many, great
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Thank you! 🙂
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With so many displaced people in the world, this is a very timely story, and very well written.
Also, thank you for the photo inspiration this week!
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My pleasure Jan and thanks for dropping by.
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I love the first line – great writing! How sad that it’s still necessary to write this in 2015, though.
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Indeed. Thanks for reading Sonya.
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Dear Sandra,
I enjoyed your story immensely. Beautifully written as always. Thanks for sharing your photo. I had fun with it.
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Hi Russell, I saw you did. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Sandra this was stylish as your pieces always are but I especially liked the dignity with which you spoke these words. Profound. 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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Resolved, resolute, determined. The world is full of people who can relate to what you’ve written. Nicely done!
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Thank you Erin. 🙂
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This is POWERFUL and SUPERIOR writing, Sandra. But, of course, it would be since it was written by you. I loved it. I wish I could say more; however, everyone has covered all that I would have said. That said …. I conquer. : )
Isadora
p.s. Congratulations on your photo being selected. A photo that has created a great many stories.
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Thank you! Very kind of you to say so.
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“the coldness of your hearts..” Something that many displaced people around the world must be feeling. Rings true this one.
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Thank you Subroto. )
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Superbly written and constructed.
AnElephant sinks into pink depression.
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No need for that at all. 🙂 Thank you for reading and commenting.
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Sandra – A very emotive subject any way, but given the current climate, even more so. Thought provoking and perfectly pitched, your last line was brilliant.
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I couldn’t decide whether these were the words of the settlers in the New World, the native Americans, or the slaves brought to America. It fit them all in a way and didn’t fit them at all in another. But it bespeaks all displaced and dispossessed people of all time. Terrific as usual, Sandra.
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