IMMIGRANTS
~with a line from "Truth, by Tyrone Bittings"
Ride the waves, rough and high—
filled with fear of crime,
tales of loss, and
far from their homeland,
full of insecurity,
captives they are,
because of the
sacrifices made in order
to be “part of”
yet worth the
risk at the end of the day.
© 2018 Sherry Howard. All rights reserved.
"Truth, by Tyrone Bittings" © 2018 Nikki Grimes, from BETWEEN THE LINES.
Click HERE to read this month's interview with Nikki Grimes. She has challenged us to write a golden shovel poem using a line from one of the poems in the post.
Leave your golden shovel on our March 2018 padlet. While some contributions will be featured as daily ditties this month, all contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, March 30th, and one lucky participant will win a copy of her new companion novel to Bronx Masquerade:
I've read more than one book about the terrible risks immigrants take, have great sympathy for them, but can't imagine the desperation they feel. You've shown this so well in your poem. "Captives they are" is truth, and poignant.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda! Our family history includes some sad stories of immigration. And, in many ways things haven't changed for immigrants over the years. Many wonderful success stories, but so much sadness, too.
DeleteI learn a lot from all of you wonderful golden shovelists who pull new meaning out of these lines! This one's full of power and truth, Sherry. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle, for all you do to allow us to write and share our words!
DeleteThis one makes me tear up. Thanks for such a beautiful reminder of the struggles and hopes so many have gone through.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rebekah! I appreciate hearing this so much!
DeleteSherry, it's such a pleasure to see your poetry here. I loved your contributions to the Madness tournament! (And it's good to see Rebekah in comments too. Hi, Rebekah!)
ReplyDeleteSuch a timely and poignant poem. "Sacrifices made in order to be 'part of'" struck a chord with me, especially. How lucky many of us are to have all the "part of" benefits with no sacrifices or expectations.
Yes, thanks! I've watched an immigrant family over the past few years struggle in a way that seems so impossible, and yet it's happening.
DeleteWell, hey there Jesse! I'm glad to see both of you here and read your poems over at Ed's!
ReplyDeleteGood luck in the next round, Jesse!