Protest
by Susanna Ruth and Marta Vinci
Slavery and rejection and even humiliation,
It’s not right to be living in this creation.
How many more until it’s enough,
Until people can stop looking through the rubble and dust.
People have gone through too many to count all because one person started to pout.
The ground is cold and hard
And I don’t know what to do,
I’d do anything just to feel warm and new.
I walk down the streets with thoughts in my head,
‘Oh why didn’t I just stay in bed’,
While people whisper ‘stay away’
Do they think my mind is made of clay,
Why can’t they just understand?
Couldn’t someone give out a helping hand?
Always being told to be different,
Forced to be something I’m not,
All I want to be is me, because I love someone a lot.
Rejected for years with no hopes of careers,
Never allowed to dream,
They told us since our teens.
About Susanna and Marta
Susanna and Marta are 13 and 12 years old (2022). They are members of Foróige Bishopstown and
Curraheen Youth Project. This poem came from a place of anger, rebellion and protest against the
parts of society that they want to challenge. The themes of racism, war, homelessness,
understanding, conversion therapy and women’s rights inspired this piece of work.