My name is Manuel

dangers of dreams and desperation

I come form a village, 

in central Mexico.

What work there is, 

does not pay well

The Family is young and growing.

My Adelita is expecting. 

Child number five,

I am praying for a boy.

A few hundred miles north ,

lies the promised land.

The land of milk and honey,

plentiful work, and better wages.

I am a Campesino,

a hard worker in the fields.

Fruit and vegetables in California,

Potatoes and beans in Idaho.

The crossing money in my pocket,

I say my goodbyes,

one early April day.

I will be alright, mi Corazon.

In an isolated spot,

just south of the Border,

I meet the smuggler Jose and his helper.

Something doesn't feel right.

The Migra are everywhere,

and Jose is nervous,

he was expecting others,

to help pay for this dangerous trek.

Somehow we make it into Arizona,

in the chill spring air.

I am tired, elated, and excited,

Day one of my new life.

Jose motions the helper,

he says to me, "Mas dinero, ahora!".

"No tengo, senor", 

There is no more money to give you.

In the moonlight,

there is a glint of metal.

A shot, the last thing I hear,

slipping into darkness.

An American Dream died,

minutes after I arrived.

More bones in the desert.

My name was Manuel.

Author's Note

Corazon; spousal term of endearment
Campesino; farm worker
Migra; US Immigration Service
Mas dinero ahora; more money, now
No tengo, Senor; I have none

Reviews

[emmajoy]

This is a completey unknown world for a Brit - could be space, way out of my understanding but certainly within my heartache. Surely this isn't a mere poem but a reality, experienced time and time again.

You've not created a picture, you've enhanced one already hanging on a tear-stained wall .. what a sad and very fine write.

[Ruth]

So so moving and saddening love...this is an elegant poem, one that literally blew me away with emotion! xx

[Robin]

a life where they can never let their guard down . living in the valley I hear their stories constantly . too many beginning with an unidentified man and a bloody ending . their dream too easily ending in nightmare .

[Becky C Strukamp]

Very in interesting reading. I enjoyed it and how nice that you included definitions in your authors notes. I liked that!!

[Christina May Shanaberg]

I was left wondering whether the shot was fired by Jose or the Migra; perhaps, that was your intention. Sad story of a man willing to risk everything to have what we Americans, too often, take for granted. Very nice write; I read it several times!! Quite frankly, I was left with mixed emotions concerning illegal immigrants verses respect for a man trying whatever he can think of to provide for his family!!! Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!