Windrush Words: The Invitation
There seems to be some confusion
An historical false conclusion
As to why The Windrush Generation
Had a sudden inclination
To leave the sun
To cold, cold ‘inglan
From 1948 to ‘71
News reporters from the past
And until today
Tend to run up their mouth and
continuously say
That Caribbean people
Came all this way
In search
of a better life here!
For a better life is partly true
But what I want to say to you
Is that I take issue and want to
review
The stimulus that brought them to
Britain.
The details need to be
re-written!
They came, because…
they were invited.
Let me recap,
Because I like to be exact,
The motivation,
The stimulation
Was a
Post-war Declaration
Announcing
That Britain,
The Motherland
NEEDS YOU!
So they answered the call
and travelled,
with personal dreams too
Let historical detail
Hereby be righted.
Caribbean’s
Crossed sea and ocean to Britain,
Because
they were
INVITED!
Windrush Words spotlights creative writing from the Windrush generation and provides a platform for sharing experiences, reflections and stories in poetic and literary form.
This poem was written by Sheba Montserrat, a choreographer, host, performance poet and stand-up comedian. Sheba performed 'The Intention' as part of a trilogy of works at St Michaels Church this Windrush Day.
As a lover of people, Sheba is able to take observations and social concerns from the stage into workshops and debate forums, to stimulate discourse as well as entertain audiences.