Poetry on Migrations

BEAUTIFUL  AND COLD 

Soundlessly they move at night beautiful and cold
morning light reveals a lawn covered in snow
a red headed woodpecker chips and drums steady 
oak trees that stand strong bare witnesses to it all

morning light reveals a lawn covered in snow
blood spatters announce predators overhead and near
a red headed woodpecker bangs steady blows
hungry finches frantically feed watching the sky in fear

blood spatters announce predators overhead and near
the news announces more dead due to Ice and climate 
hungry finches frantically feed watching the sky in fear
we fight for climate change but tolerate ICE

the news announces the dead in Ice and snow
the damaged fall like tree branches on the border
we fight for climate change but tolerate ICE
children in tents watch the snow and cry mother

the damaged fall like tree branches on the border
both sides claim and deny any blame
children in tents watch the snow and cry mother
the red headed woodpecker watches with shame

Both sides claim and deny any blame
the oak trees stand strong bear witness to it all
children in tents watch the snow and cry mother
soundlessly they cross at night resolute beautiful and cold


CORN BEANS SALT

Querida madre,

we crossed the border made it here tired but well
we were caught by la migra there are many of us in a shelter
which smells bad but they feed us and give us water
the food is cold and bland
I am grateful and do not complain
but at night at bedtime 
the lights make it hard to sleep
in the quiet you hear the little ones crying 
for their families or because they are afraid
as for me …it is you I worry about I miss your face mama
keep the dog near it can keep you safe it will bark and warn you of intruders 
try to keep your strength do not wander far from the house
right now I see you clearly
hair dark as frijoles negros held back in place with a thin ribbon
you are smiling and shaking your head
that here I am far away telling you what to do

I have faith that any day now I will make my case
the judge will understand after he hears my plans and sees how strong I am 
despite all the weight I have lost
I will tell them that I am already fifteen
I will work hard so I can send for you 
they are lining us up for a shower it's been a long time
God keep you safe
I hope you have corn beans and salt 
enough to keep you going
you are always in my heart

te quiero mama

tu hijo


SWEETWATER 


Just the name made my mouth water
With sugary southern syllables
Sweetwater
he carefully tracked the path of the Eclipse
this was one of the cities (he smiled) 
spectacular prime viewing
Although the shabby hotel
The best in town did not meet my big city artificial aspirations
fine-tuned over the years to four dollar hotel ratings
But It was outside town had an expansive lawn and the right cost
Arriving the night before the blessed event we drove into town
Looking it over with small expectations
The town center howled back with pacemaker shattering music
A stuffed astronaut dressed in silver affixed to a post
like a symbol of Christ 
Vendors and stray dogs filled the streets
Around the plaza were small shops with enticing windows 
I could not resist
I saw some old luggage I envisioned using as props
the owner strode over as backup to the salesgirl
We looked each other up and down
New York she said
Brooklyn I said
Williamsburg we said 
Espanol we Espanglished
Screaming and laughing like teenagers
We hugged and traded ancestral names and towns
trying to establish our connections
We discovered we lived blocks from each other in Brooklyn
We knew the same vibrant scary neighbourhoods
We had Family names we shared
I kept quiet about the stories 
of my father the case worker 
Visiting families to assess their needs
long hours away from home with select
Desperately beautiful women
As she drew me close to answer her questions
and we declared we were sisters
She wanted me to meet her blind mother
blind with the same rare disease 
My blind father had….
my heart went on pause…. breathe
We traded phone numbers 
Made plans to visit each other
Had a glass of wine 
A toast to life
I paid for my discounted luggage

I imagined my future with a sister I never had  
let the past be past and welcome the new
The next day we sat in wait
With hundreds of others
Waiting for the eclipse 
The crickets and frogs alerted us 
Special glasses in place
We watched as the moon
Passed between the sun and the earth
Darkness came with a loud gasp

Packing the car the next day
Sweating in the heat we left 
high with expectations 
But there were
No Emails no calls
Nothing but
crickets from Sweetwater 
A chance meeting
unexpected eclipse