Born to Fight
by Emteaz Hussain, 1991
I was born a daughter of a steel-worker
Son of a farmer from a land in the East
Full of colour, spices, warmth and smells
Pain and hunger, fear and oppression.
I was born a daughter of a steel-worker
Baby of a mother with the name of Asha
Daughter of a farmer from a land in the East
And we were sewn, watered, fed and grown.
And we struggled as were moulded and
formed in the heat
Because I was born a daughter of a steel-worker.
And I kicked and I ran to face the night.
With those hungry and those desparate
searching eyes
I faced reality
in the homeless and the shame of the rejected
And I ran and danced to face the night
And from the lightness and darkness
There formed a balance
Because I was born the daughter of a steel-worker
And we were raised in the life of love and hope
Because I was born a daughter of a steel-worker
And the baby of a mother with the name of Asha
And I was raised in the light and I was born to fight.
