Forward
The sole purpose of this chapbook was to highlight the current issues involving illegal immigration and deportation. It’s a topic that often goes overlooked. I can say this because for a lengthy amount of time I overlooked the issue myself. I really didn’t develop an understanding of how serious this matter was until I saw a news story about a Salvadoran man and his daughter who drowned trying to cross a river to Brownsville, Texas. This story moved me emotionally. It made me realize the toiling plights immigrants endure in order to make it to America. It also encouraged me to acquire more knowledge about the issue. That is why this topic was number one on my list for this course. I wanted to make others aware of the struggles that immigrants face, just as I myself have become aware. For this chapbook, my goal was to give readers a multidimensional look of the topic. I wanted them to have an understanding of the perspectives of everyone affected: the children, parents, I.C.E agents, etc. My goal was also to create an experience for the readers with my poetry. I wanted them to feel as though they were going through these plights with the immigrants. With my variety of poetic techniques, I wanted to tell a vivid story with each poem. I wanted for the chapbook to be an informative journey for the reader. By the end of Quest For Home, the readers should have an understanding of the multiple tribulations immigrants face trying to seek asylum in America including dangerous travel, rejection, living in disguise and the possibility of detainment at any time.
Quest For Home by Amber A. Folkes Table of Contents Forward……………………………………………………………………………..1 Poetry Are We There Yet……………………………………………………………3 The Risk……………………………………………………………………….6 home…………………………………………………………………………..7 The Green Woman………………………………………………………….8 Mi Amor………………………………………………………………………10 No Good Deed………………………………………………………………..11 Crunch Time………………………………………………………………....12 One Purpose………………………………………………………………….13 Biography……………………………………………………………………..14
“Are We There Yet?” Papiiiiiiiii, how much longerrrr? Sshhh, not too long mija. Papiiiiii, I’m hungryyyyyy! Sshhh, here mija, here… A mango from my pack. It won’t be too long mija I promise… I have to get us there To freedom Work, opportunity, stability Lie on the other side. The songs, I hear them… Oh say can you see, By the dawn’s early light What so proudly we hailed… I have to get us there. The sweat that drenches my back Baptizes my baby. I can feel the Sun’s eyes on us Staring with ridicule. No nourishment or liquid To replace these long gone electrolytes I’m drained, like a raisin, or Like the juice box, when My baby finishes Oh dios mio… The current of this river Sways with rage. It moves and shakes me and my mija, Like we’re bad food it needs to regurgitate.
Oh dios mio… The dark trees and thickets scare my mija. Malevolent figures reaching, grabbing Ready to devour us… Ready to engorge our failure... Can’t turn back Can’t turn back WON’T turn back Head chopping Bodies dropping Corpses roasting Corpses rotting Empty pockets Lie behind me…. The graves of my slain family members and friends The bombs, the guns Blood cascading down the streets The horrid stench of all the bodies The bodies Lie behind me….. My baby’s cries Flood my ears Blisters and sores Take over my feet. Bug bites from mosquitos The size of my hand From hiding Staying low. Engulfed by itchy grass and thorn bushes. Ssshhh mija ssshh. It won’t be long before I can give you w hatever m ija. I promise. The water treats us
As though we’re trespassers, Intruders. The cold is numbing. At this point, me and the river Are in battle… And the rocket’s red glare, The bombs bursting in air., Gave proof through the night, That our flag was still there… I can see my job Picture my future home I can see my family’s happiness I can see a new life I can feel the American experience The thought of cheeseburgers Makes my mouth water Oh no, that’s the river I taste Once filled with hope, now Filled with water So much water Can’t turn back Whatever it takes WON’T turn back I have to get us there Or die trying I have to get us there… I gotta get us there….. I have……… For the land of the f ree, And the home of the brave…..
“The Risk” Oppression is what I’m trying to escape But freedom comes at a major price I’m Plotting Gotta prepare For a days-long journey Gotta prepare for the fact that I may not Make it…… Gotta prepare to possibly be detained Gotta prepare for the broken ankles, snake and spider bites, dehydration I’m Optimistic cause that’s how badly I want this that’s how desperate I am For better I’m on a mission Gotta prepare for my death Gotta prepare for the death of others Gotta prepare for whatever Cause whatever is what I’m willing to do To become a part of the red, white, and blue.
“home” Mommy, will I still be able to see my friends? Where’s my toy? Ssshhh mijo, we have to leave.
‘
Metal bars, wired fences.. Perfect for the situation at hand Cause we’re obviously being sentenced to prison
Bare. Forced to leave with nothing but the clothes on our back And a loney tan sack An ocean of black and grey Perfect for the bleakness due to them sending Me and my family away. They smile They’re able to go home later They escort us with blatant disregard For our unknown destiny I tote my mijo anxiously Not knowing what’s to come This place they’re taking me It’s not home So we don’t smile My husband slumps in sorrow My baby brings a book For the long journey The quietness fuels my anxiety No sound but sorrowful footsteps Throat clearing and instructions from the officers We don’t know what lies on the other side But it’s not home
“The Green Woman” The Green Woman Papi talks about her all the time He gets so excited when he talks about her He says she represents freedom and opportunity Papi says when we go to the Green Woman He’ll buy me all the toys I want! He talks about her torch That’s my favorite part of the story I can see her amber flame in his dark brown eyes He talks about how proud and high she holds it Guiding us out of the darkness Mom gives him a coy smile while washing the dishes Papi grabs her and kisses her, she laughs and shoos him off It’s just something about this Green Woman Gets Papi all excited This morning I caught him humming, singing, and dancing In the kitchen….. And Papi never sings! Before, he barely smiled. He says her torch lights our path to freedom Papi says she’s always there, waiting for us Papi says when we make it to the Green Woman, We won’t have to deal with the rebels and cartel anymore Papi says we won’t have to live in fear any longer I hear him talk to his friends at night, They want to go to the Green Woman too They whisper so soft about how to get there Their whispers go from soft to sharp Uncle Tito bangs on the table Uncle Javier and Papi argue quietly They sound frustrated The plan sounds hard
Papi says we’ll have to hide, and travel a long way Why do we have to hide? We already hide here all the time… I thought the Green Woman wants to give us freedom Papi said her beautiful green color represented a fresh start Does she not want us? Is she waiting for us just as Papi said? If we are welcome, then we shouldn’t have to hide. I’m starting not to like The Green Woman.
dear mi amor, i long to hold you again. i hope you feel my presence, in your times of loneliness. they snatched you from my grasp, when i least expected it. like a thief in the night, they stole my family. i don’t know what’s more terrifying: knowing that you’re gone or not knowing where you are. i lie awake in this foil blanket hoping that you’re safe, hoping that our seed growing inside you is secure. mi amor, i’ll never understand their cruelty. how are they so comfortable separating families? they treat us like savages in here. everyday a new person is beaten. i’ve watched countless people disappear everyday. as if I blinked my eyes and then they were gone. and it’s so cold, mi amor. the sounds of the shivers and cries prevent me from sleeping. these foil blankets don’t help at all. everyone calls the cages the “ice boxes”. i think of my love for our family yo keep me warm. although i am surrounded by sorrow and hopelessness, i will keep hope for you mi amor. the thought of you and my unborn child gives me hope. they can detain me, but they can’t detain my hope for a better future for our family. my optimism will not be confined by this cage they have locked me in. they can never cage my hop nor my love for our family. sincerely, Noah
“No Good Deed” He expresses his fear He knows the risk Of walking in this trap He just wants to take his son To see his mom for God’s sake As his lawyer, I try to establish An understanding with the I.C.E facility They assure him that he won’t be detained He takes a silent moment of consideration The protesters shout with passion and anger in the background. I see the concern and terror in Noah’s face. He tries to be strong for his son He comes to the decision to go inside. We walk with him, to assure him that he’s not alone Everything seems fine, until I notice the I.C.E agent Closing the door behind Noah and the boy. I try with all the might I have in me to squeeze through the door “I’m their lawyer! I am the lawyer for Noah and the child!”, I scream. The I.C.E agent reaches his hand towards me, and before I know it I’m on the ground. My ankle swells with fury, I can hardly get up. As the ambulance carries me on the stretcher, I weep in disappointment. I have failed Noah and his child. I promised them safety. I couldn’t even save myself from I.C.E Look at me, I’m in no position to help anyone I’ve failed
Crunch Time Crunch time is the pressure To find shelter before it gets dark Crunch time is the sound of your short breaths As you try to keep up with the group It’s the feeling of knowing that you WILL get left behind Beads of sweat dance across your forehead. Crunch time is the heat The scorching heat that mocks your fatigue Crunch time is the howl of the coyotes Your nerves devour you. It’s the nervous breathing of the group, the The sshhing as you hide from border patrol Crunch time is your baby crying Unaware of the importance of the journey The ridiculing stares of the group The feeling of dead weight. It’s the growl of your stomach Since you’ve eaten all the food You packed Crunch time is that overwhelming feeling, When you finally cross over the border You smell the American air You put your shoulders back And prepare for your new life….
“One Purpose” One struggle One journey One purpose so many families and stories Cries and worries Laws constantly changing like a chameleon detaining millions of humans breaking many hearts you can put them together But u choose to pull them apart Husbands missing wives The children’s haunting cries so many cold nights Long, uncomfortable flights To a place I tried to flee No one understands me Or my desperation So much confrontation So much devastation for One struggle One journey One purpose
Biography Amber Alicia Folkes is a graduating senior at Tennessee State University with a major in Psychology and a minor in English. She was born and raised in Memphis, TN. Growing up, Amber always had a passion for writing. She started off writing poems in middle school, then soon branched out into writing music and short stories. During middle school and highschool, Amber was often recognized for her excellent stage presence and eloquence when performing her work. Amber aspires to attend graduate school for counseling and therapy, soon becoming a therapist and running her own practice. She also has goals to become an inspirational author later on in her career.
Â