The Long Journey

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: GLOBAL POLITICS

The Long Journey

 

From Haiti to Chile through Mexico

to the Texas border

Can you imagine a more difficult journey?

Things are so bad in Haiti

Earthquakes hurricanes assassinations

They are willing to pay a series

of unreputable brokers

Leaving behind all property

Leaving behind all belongings

Leaving loved ones and family ties

to be transported over sea

Across land traversing jungles

Across desert and barren wasteland

Through cities of sprawling poverty

Confronting gangs and lowlife criminals

Only to confront the wall

at the Texas border

 

Say what you will

Say we cannot have an open border

Say we must protect our own

Say we must draw the line

But do not deny their courage

or the sincerity of their cause

 

They are human beings caught

in a web of destitution

If we would deny them entry

At least afford them respect

Then you will know what

the promise of America means