Us

A kind of poem told in first person plural. (inspired by the book The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

Most of us cross the border in the hope of a better life.

Some of us are here legally and others are not

Many of us cross with children clinging to our hands, with bags full of essentials tightly held, with fear in our minds, but a hope for a future

Many of us cross to escape, escape the violence, escape the death

Some of us cross alone with nothing but our thoughts and a sliver of hope

Some of us cross in a group, with people we have never known, but who we will forever remember

One of us cries at night, the fear and nightmares of the past and future intertwined in their dreams

One of us smiles every day even when they are stuck in a small room crowded with others

One of us dies from jumping the trains, one of us dies from starvation, one of us dies from thirst

Some of us are caught and are sent back across the border but many of us will try again and again

Some of us cross safely with the help of people who care

Some of us cross knowing we should not, and some of us cross without a worry in sight

Many of us make it

Many of us cross, leaving the border a part of the past

Many of  us learn the new language although it seems are accents will never disappear

Some of us work on farms for the rest of our lives

Some of us work in the city doing any job available

Some of us get well-paid jobs

Many of us have children who grow up here and become great people

All of us who made it live here enjoying a better life, although it seems the future is clouded

All of us who made it only want to live peacefully

All of us who are here now just want a happy future for ourselves and our children

Reviews

[Wanaka]

This is a very sad and hard topic for people. I love how writers try and picture what it most be like for other people that might have been through these kinds of things. What's sad is some don't talk about them do to fear but it's nice to try and get it out there.