Janette Hoppe #35 Back in the Day

back in the day
when my family were growing up
they had to scrimp and save
for every spare bit of change
my parents worked 9-9
because 9-5 just wasn't enough
they couldn't fill our plates
they couldn't fill our cups
our bellies were full
but we were hungry

once the kaitiaki (guardians)
of this land
we were now thieves
pilfering and pillaging
off of our own whenua (land)
just for something to eat
no longer able to live off this land
that once sustained us
our hands were bound
we had lost our land,
we had lost our way
and now when I put out my cup
begging for a dollar
you spit on me with shame
and heckle me
for living this way.