Sharing the Journey, 13-November-2018

It’s been awhile, but I’m finally back here at the ark of identity to share a recent poem:

 

ASYLUM SEEKERS

I would tell you a story
about a brother and sister,
children of a poor man,
good man, wood-cutter
who went walking
through forest (and desert,
and mountains, and rivers)
without any breadcrumbs
to leave in a trail
behind them.

I would tell you a story
about a brother and sister
who walked through forest
toward a gingerbread
house, the walls and roof
constructed of sweet
spicy biscuits, icing
affixing tempting candy
ornaments along the eaves
and picket fence.

I would tell you a story
about a brother and sister
who walked and walked
and walked, trying to find
their way to a safe
place, whose hearts lifted
in hope when their
(mind’s) eye spied
the sweet house, when
they thought they could
finally stop fearing.

But you know the story
of Hansel and Gretel
already, and you know
what they found when
they reached it.

-Halima Ayuba (Laura M Kaminski), 08-November-2018…for our human kindred who have been walking across half a continent with hope that the people ahead will be kinder than the ones they’ve fled.