Poem #24
My immigrant ancestors
Emigrating from
Immigrating to
What?
Fear, poverty, loss
Hope, prosperity, opportunity
Coming From
and Going To
Where?
The homeland, parents-cousins-siblings-lovers
The new land, strangers-all
With- or without-
spouses/children/family
Why?
Restlessness, Need
Religion, Politics
Romance, Curiosity
When?
The lure of newly-available (1600s)
The call of freedom (1700s)
The marketing of industry (1800s)
Fleeing to and from… (1900s)
Who?
Grandmother
Great-great grandparents
great-great-great grandparents
great-great-great-great grandparents
great-great-great-great-great grandparents
and on, into the distance
time passes and those who are here-now
forget those who came-then
We are all, ultimately,
travelers in the great unknown.
Should we not show
a little kindness to the stranger?