Like a bird in a cage
I was persecuted
For being different

Where am I from?
My parents are from Bhutan
And I was born in a Nepalese refugee camp
Am I Bhutanese, am I Nepalese.
What do I call myself?

I have many homes with no home
Though I have identity, I am now identity less
I have asked many questions of myself.

When people call me refugee instead of my name
I have no identity
No land, no property.

In Nepal there were separate laws for us
Bhutanese refugees
We couldn’t even work
How could we survive with a few rags and little food?
Provided by organizations.

Abruptly a devastating fire occurred in our camp
Everything turned into desert before our eyes.
I found my house in ashes
Nothing left for us to survive
For the second time in my life
I became a refugee.

I shiver huddling under a dirty blanket and dream of my life
No future
Through the hole in my roof, I just see falling stars
I share my sorrow with the desperate moon
I shout for opportunity

I cry for identity
But nobody gives me rights as a refugee

Why such segregation for refugees?
Why aren’t we refugees treated in the same way?
We also have red blood and are full of sense
With fabulous talents and lots of skills

Being Laxmi, a refugee, I hid my talent
I couldn’t participate in different programs
I had no chance to cross the border of my camp.

I sat on the cold ground of my class
To increase my learning process.
I worked to bring consciousness to society
And I built my skills and ability
I had hope but I was hopeless
I had a dream but my dream was lost

Then I planned to come to the U.S.
Eventually on August 17th we reached here
First I felt uncomfortable
I missed my friends and my camp.

Now I feel I am getting opportunity
I have a dream and dignity
I will be a politician and I want to bring durable solutions
I will be a lawyer and fight for justice for refugees
I will be a writer and wake up every refugee to increase their voice

If the international community is silent
Our country is adamant not to let us return
Then still there is persecution of refugees
Thus I shout to fight for human rights