Praying for someone to give me some relief,
Relief from the pain I have endured,
From the hell which has been my home for three years.
I came here to escape the exploitation at home,
To a country where poverty was supposed to be untold.
Where people were just and money would come by,
And I could bring light to my family and life.
But here I am stuck in what seems to be hell,
Living with my enemy and making darkness my friend.
I am frightened and unsure of whether I will live,
Ever see any life beyond the four walls I am in.
I have been threatened and warned not to move out,
Not to speak a word and stay locked up.
I crave for the days to put the dustbins out,
To get a glimpse of the sun and my whereabouts.
I ask for my wages to send back home
But all I get is abuses in return.
During the day all I do is sweep,
And when the mistress sleeps, I silently weep.
Hiding my tears when she is around
She said I will be jailed if I cry out loud.
I want to escape, to be set free,
But she said if I run they will arrest me.
I cry for help but there is no one to hear
And though it’s been three years, I feel I have wasted a lifetime here.
I am tired of cleaning, my body is giving way
My wounds aren’t healing but am still beaten every day.
I wish to talk to my family, know they are alright,
But my memories of them are diminishing and turning blight.
I tried going to the police, but was sent back
It’s her word against mine, and I am just a servant who is black.
Yes, I was poor but that was still home,
Today, for money I have lost it all.
I lost my family and my friends,
But more so my freedom to live like a human.
But here I am all alone,
Slaving for life and trafficked to clean someone else’s home.
