A note to the colonizer by Theruni Ranatunga
It pains me to see
my people blindfolded
crawl around on all fours
aimlessly seeking
nuanced abstracts of freedom
that are still denied
years after you left these shores.
A broken nation,
a banana republic
you will never let rise.
It pains me to see
the indoctrination of my people
and their silent subservience
acceptance of it
as if it were their own -
these archaic values
you set forth
simply to divide and conquer
all the more to acquire.
Stagnated, trapped
in a vicious loop
of poverty, corruption
anarchy and discrimination
feasting away on the
pathetic remnants of a
two thousand five hundred
year old
brazenly biased,
romanticized and manipulated
history of their home.
It pains me to see
that my land was robbed
not just of gems and statues
that now line
the halls of your museums
but of it’s prosperity,
every last bit of it’s dignity
forcefully
labeled “commonwealth”.
And yet my land dreams of
an independence it’ll
never get
As it staggers around
begging bowl in hand,
Every loan graciously welcomed.
And do you want to hear
the dismal reality of it all?
As I pen this note down
fluently in your tongue
and dream of flying out
of this abyss
my land has become,
I look to you for salvation
Through you, I selfishly seek
a better future
What an unfitting thing
I’ve become.
sincerely, a not-so-patriotic, patriot.

Theruni Ranatunga
Find her on Instagram @all_things_tr

Thank you for sharing this powerful piece of your work with us.
Our aim at Konectiv Wellness is to create a platform dedicated to wellness as a whole and discuss and offer solutions towards building a stronger, more empathetic, and informed community. In that light, decolonization and rephrasing the conversation are so important. This poem by Theruni resonates so much wisdom and insight, we are honored to share these words on our site.
We also found these very interesting reads and videos on the "Statue of Tara", stolen from our island nation, is a profound example of the vibrant culture we as Sri Lankans lay heritage - She is a reminder for us to reclaim and reframe the conversations around #embodyingwholeness
Finders Keepers: On Sex, Tara the Buddhist Deity at the British Museum and Brownness in the Colonies - By Senel Wanniarachchi
Cover art by @jemlisch