Migrant Woes

Pinoy Migrant

 

 

To be a migrant

is to be alone

eating strange food

listening to foreign tongues

in a faraway land

 

To be a migrant

is to bear

the northern cold

or the desert heat

either from nature

or human streak

 

To be a migrant

is to be vulnerable  

to prejudice and discrimination

from mild to extreme form:

from subtle patronizing

to uncovered acts of disgust

from suspicious looks

to physical attack

 

To be a migrant

is to be a young girl/woman

caressing an elderly white husband

telling oneself: for my family

I’d learn to love this man

 

To be a migrant

is to dream of home

at night and

to wake up full of angst:

did the neighbour

tell the police last night

an asian-looking woman

cleaning the house;

or caring for old Mr. Schmidt

behind your back?

 

To be a migrant

is to be called a hero

for sending euros, dinars, yens

and dollars every month

feeding the bellies of corrupt politicians,

who doesn’t care about my welfare

when I come back

 

To be a migrant

is to dream of a better world:

where food is on the table

where children get education

where the sick gets medication

  

To be a migrant

is to pray at night

for a better world to live in:

to be home once again

and forever…

Amen.