Oklahoma – Borderless

By LaVern Spencer McCarthy

ARE WE THERE YET 

A migrant child who holds his mother's hand
will ask the question many times a day.
"Is this America, the Promised Land?"

An innocent, he does not understand
how long it takes a heart to find its way.
A migrant child who holds his mother's hand

may think all citadels he sees are grand,
but soon perceives that he can never stay.
Is this America, the Promised Land?

He sees a barrier where soldiers stand
with rifles drawn, encroachers kept at bay.
A migrant child who holds his mother's hand

may find that dreams will not come true, as planned.
There comes a time when we can only pray.
Is this America, the Promised Land?

Must we deny asylum, reprimand
with angry words and deeds that cause dismay,
a migrant child who holds his mother’s hand?
Is this America, the Promised Land?

LaVern Spencer McCarthy has published twelve books of short stories and poetry. She is a life member of Poetry Society of Texas and lives in Blair Oklahoma.

The Beeman

The Beeman As geese slowly cruise around the edge of the pond, small goslings hurry to keep up. The first light of the new day begins to peek above the horizon. A man with his coffee sits on the deck and ponders his day. Mists of the early morning move like tendrils across the water and dew twinkles in the green grass of the yard. The Beeman, donning hat and veil, slowly walks the path towards the apiary just as a peach sunrise ignites a Georgia sky