Photography © Jennifer Matthews

Then, Now…

I wasn’t always like this, you know.
Mr. Banerjee, boss man, he give me new life,
new beginning. Before, I was a, how you say?
A terrorist, a Marxist terrorist.
Yes, I did all those things you read about,
yes, and more. It was for my family, of course.
My mother, so ill; my brothers, sisters, we were
nine of us; hungry, poor, no father no more.
I had to do what I was told to do, how else
to feed my family, all of us in that tiny sad house?
No, no, no, I don’t want your pity. I accept what
I did. Mr. B., he was tough teacher. Now I am
biodynamic farmer. My pigs bring the most money
for the festival; my wife, child, have clothes;
my child, toys I made myself, see? I am carpenter, too,
have a life where I can look at everyone, yes,
even you, I can look in the eye. No, no, I don’t need
religion, I am not of shame, nor of pride, either;
it was something many of us did, to survive.
It was long ago, I don’t think about it anymore.

Poet/Photographer Jennifer Matthews’ poetry has been published in Nepal by Pen Himalaya and locally by the Wilderness Retreat Writers Organization, Midway Journal, The Somerville Times, Ibbetson Street Press and Boston Girl Guide. Jennifer was nominated for a poetry award by the Cambridge Arts Council for her book of poetry Fairy Tales and Misdemeanors. Her songs have been released nationally and internationally and her photography has been used as covers for a number of Ibbetson Street Press poetry books and has been exhibited at The Middle East Restaurant, 1369 Coffeehouses, Sound Bites Restaurant in Somerville and McLean Hospital.

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