THE CARAVAN By Miguel Perez

Walking day and night

Even in the morning light,

How frigid I find myself

Here in this caravan.

Now from such a long walk

We are often shaking

Anything can be endured

But least of all hunger.

Photos from Tucson Samaritans *

At night I am frightened

To see my uncle trembling

How could he not?

If we don’t die from the cold..

To enliven the group of walkers

I sing a song of valor

But wait til they see how harsh

It is to fight the heat.

We will walk, we will walk

We will do what we have to do

Even if at the middle of the journey

We die then of thirst.

So sad, these people

That back there come walking

They are not criminals

They come seeking ‘life.’

Let’s go and give them a hand

And let’s support these people

That hardly matter to anyone,

That are unwanted by the President.

There are those who speak about this

They call it an ‘invasion’

I see it with different eyes

I believe it is a ‘benediction.’

Photos from Tucson Samaritans *

From miles away you can see they are

Peaceful and of different ages

So don’t confuse them

With those threatening security.

Help these people.

It is not rocket science

I remind all of you

That this is a question of conscience.

Worn down by weariness

I move to my left and to my right

To see if they will have pity on me

And if they will let me ride the ‘bestia.’

I feel like a very small creature

I was brought here by my parents

Senor Trump, don’t separate us

Or, is it that you never had a mother?

What a tremendous deception!

I feel so stupid,

Hearing  over and over, the President,

Repeating  ‘fake news.’

Finally we arrive at our goal

At a shady spot under a mesquite tree

I hope and pray that the President

Doesn’t take my children away.

Photos from Tucson Samaritans *

December,  2018

* Photos generously provided by 'Tucson Samaritans' in Tucson, Arizona, http://www.tucsonsamaritans.org