Being Part European

By Sam Simpson

First Voice: We have a past, no present, no future.

We live in neither or either, some say.

Second Voice: We live in between the past and the present and between the future beyond the past; some say. I grow old. future beyond the past; some say. I grow old.

I grow old.

Third Voice: We live among ourselves. We keep ourselves to our selves.

Everyone belongs to someone, someone belongs to every one.

In between being, living, suffering, dying.

First Voice: Nobody wants us. Nobody wants us. We came from nowhere.

We belong to no one. We belong to nowhere. That is what they say. That is what I hear. That is what 1 hear being said. That is what they think. Around the yaqona bowl. Around the kiosk. In the bus stand, wherever I stand.

Second Voice; I look at them. Everybody looks at us.

They categorise us because they have a category.

Third Voice; / belong to this category.

I belong to that category.

I belong to every category.

I belong to no category.

First Voice: Where do I stand? Between either or neither.

Between either and or.

That is an examination question.

It is a supreme test.

This test defies examination.

This examination defies test.

Second Voice: There is no category beyond this criterion.

This criterion defies a category.

Third Voice: We are not quite human.

We are not quite inhuman.

First Voice: Our strength is in our togetherness.

Together and together we gather.

Being apart, feeling apart, behaving apart.

We have no niche and no habitat, they say.

Second Voice: I fear for the dawn but not the day.

I fear for the day but not the dawn.

I fear for dusk but not darkness.

I fear for darkness but not dusk.

Third Voice: 1 cannot digress beyond this digression.

First Voice: We die but are not dead. I am afraid.

We live but are not alive. I am afraid.

Second Voice: What manner of creature are we?

Third Voice: We have no phyllum, no class, no species.

First Voice: Our genes are black and white and blue.

Second Voice: Everyone has a white ancestor.

Third Voice: Everyone has a black ancestor.

First Voice: Everyone has a colourful ancestor.

Second Voice: In our blood, in our colour, in our culture.

Third Voice: But from this ambiguity, this dilemma, this impasse, this enigma.

First Voice: We see ourself, we find ourself; we know ourself.

Second Voice: In a new light, a different light, of clarity and radiance.

Third Voice: Our weakness is a stepping-stone to new heights, others do not perceive, receive, possess, control, not perceive, receive, possess, control.

First Voice: Yes, I believe we have the gift to perceive, receive, possess and control.

Second Voice: To control without ownership.

To move freely in different spheres, of acceptability and tolerance.

Third Voice: We are the crucial cent to every dollar.

First Voice: We are the crucial ace to every pack.

Second Voice: We are the vital ingredient in every recipe.

Third Voice: In every conflict, instability, disharmony.

First Voice: We catalyse every reaction.

Control the reaction.

Subject the agents, the agencies.

Second Voice: Until calm and peace and solution prevail.

Third Voice: Call us what you may: Half caste, half breed, Euronesian; Part this, part that, part what First Voice: Our symbolism embraces the alphabet.

Second Voice: We control without offence.

Third Voice: No matter what difference.

We divide and rule differences.

We synthesise a new source of solution from differences and opposition.

Outside out, inside in, inside everything, outside every thing.