Ashleigh Neame - Kidnapped & A Book and A Pen

Kidnapped - Ruperake Petaia
A Book and A Pen - Vaine Rasmussen

When it came time for me to go to high school

my parents chose the ‘elite’ system.

I did not go through my country’s education system, no.

I did Cambridge.

I did CIE.

I did my schooling the British way.

My country was colonised by the Europeans,

as were the countries of the writer of each poem.

Kidnapped.

A Book and a Pen.

Unlike these poets, I chose my education.

I chose to do it the English way.

My country’s system did not work for me,

so I did it the better way.

So some I can relate, and some I cannot.

Ruperake Petaia was released.

I assume Vaine Rasmussen was too.

I escaped.

I was not granted the piece of paper, not like the writers.

I escaped, to another education system.

As their poems work chronologically,

so does mine.

They went to primary,

To secondary,

To university.

As did I.

They drew on their personal experiences.

As am I.

I understand why Petaia calls fellow students

fellow victims.

I understand why he calls graduation

his release.

I used to feel that way also.

I relate less to Rasmussen –

I am not up to post-schooling life.

I am still studying.

I do not feel as if I have missed a lot –

There is nothing for me to miss yet.

In some ways I can relate.

In some ways I cannot relate.

I do not have a separate culture to those of my educators.

I am the same.

I can relate.

I can’t relate.

I can understand.

I can’t understand.

Kidnapped,

with a book and a pen.