She was
caught in a snare we would
consider too cruel
for animals,
a teenager who traveled
a long way, tired and pregnant
and she twisted there, caught on the wires
like a fawn trapped
in the shepherd's fence
meant to separate the domestic
from the wild.
And bleeding she plead with her eyes
for herself and her child.
She was bound to a fate
of captured or drowned.
But then she found,
deeper than the razor cut,
the hope was bled
from her body,
the future she fought for
fallen from her form,
and the silver lining of the American dream
was understood to be steel
and the promise of it--stolen.
And do not forget that,
because your ancestor fluttered in a womb
like hers
and a golden lamp lit their way.
And say what you will:
the dream of America beckons still.
1 comment:
This brings tears. I want to say it's beautiful, and it is, but that's not appropriate for the subject. Thank you.
Post a Comment