My Poem, "The immigrant is working," was recently published in Acentos Review, a literary and arts journal that promotes and publishes Latinix work. I wrote the poem five months ago. We are already living a different reality.
The United States has been a nation of immigrants since its inception. Have we forgotten? The most courageous migrants uproot themselves from home in pursuit of a better chance at life. In my conversations with immigrants over many years, I've learned that immigrants are the ones most eager to work—most loving of this nation.
We are still processing what has not yet fully happened. Waiting for another shoe to drop.
Who are we as a people?
If we surrender our humanity, we are lost.
"The immigrant is working" as it appears on Acentos Review.
The immigrant is working
The immigrant is working
The immigrant is working
The immigrant is mopping
The immigrant is washing
The immigrant is busing
The immigrant is cooking
The immigrant is serving
The immigrant is sowing
The immigrant is pruning
The immigrant is learning English
The immigrant is hand-picking the fruit
The immigrant is drowning
The immigrant dismembers a turkey
The immigrant is raped
The immigrant is soothing your baby
The immigrant is lifting the old man
The immigrant is re-making the bed
The immigrant is sleeping in a van
The immigrant is hiding
The immigrant is painting a house
The immigrant is bused to another state
The immigrant is mopping
The immigrant is mopping
The immigrant's plane ticket is paid for
by the city he's leaving
The immigrant is working
The immigrant is working
Dear Reader -
Let me know what you are thinking. As you know, this is a conversation.
Marlena,
This is a wonderful poem and so important in times like ours. Congratulations!
I love this poem, Marlena. So much depth in a handful of words.