Paradox globalised –
macro-economics and borderless Internet
co-exist insanely with
exclusivist tribal identify
and cyclical ancestral wars;
while modern technologies
cohabitate with primeval sins.
Migrant of these distant roots
bring not your foreign wars
and ancient jealousies so tribal
to my shores.
You come from lands that hold no promise,
no hope, no future -
as you desire it.
Purpose then your hearts
all historic baggage
now abandoning
before you enter here.
For we each are rooted in our heritage
unless we choose to change.
You were drawn to a nation
already forged in liberty,
- Your hopes and prayers focused there -
on the basis of our heritage,
not yours.
Migrant, you come escaping
the blight your birthplace
suffers;
your adverse heritage invalidated.
Those things that caused
that suffering now leave behind;
there is no room
for such injustice here.
Each migrant off the plane is valuable to us,
We need your contribution,
to build,
to advance
your new homeland as it stands;
for this truth eternal is:
‘No nation divided against itself
can long endure’.
Migrants of such distant roots
bring not your foreign wars
and ancient jealousies so tribal
to our shores.
Hate builds hate, and
we do not want that import
here.
Author notes
I am a migrant, and the descendant of refugees.
Do existing nations have the right to require migrants to live by that nation's values?
Comments
-
Pertinent Query!
A slice of reflective zeitgeist, especially in this times of debate-furor concerning immigration numbers and integration levels.
Once again the accuity of your subject diverts any comment from the straight poetic analysis and draws one to remark more on the issues involved! Which isnt by any means a bad thing.
The culturally homogenous state as an amalgamation of conquered tribes cemented in value-systems forged by the dominant group is becoming less and less valid.
Tolerance is vital but goes both ways and I don´t believe a state should bend over backwards to accomodate any religious or traditional practice which debases human dignity (such as circumcision, both male and female, "honour-killing", arranged marriage etc).
Language courses and such should be compulsory and engineered to impart knowledge and understanding of values/quirks/eccentricities of the country.
Xenophobes should take a peek at their own family trees and concede the multiple borders their own origins have usually crossed down the ages.
Ok, Gagiikwe, that´s my 5 cents, speaking as a refugee from Thatcherism (my family moved to Norway in 79)heheh.
If I may say I found some of your sentence-compositions a mite odd - the switch in tense and the use of nouns as verbs. Intentional no doubt - I found a little distracting. Might I inquire as to your intention with this style of language?
The poem is also very generalising in that it doesn´t mention specific migrants or cases although it more than infers migrants who are essentially refugees - I appreciate the idea behind this but personally would ve liked a little more spice to the indiginous/immigrant mix (not necessarily profanity!Heheh!).
I guess I missed a little personalisation.
Otherwise all your points were salient, thought-provoking and finely versed - a pleasure to read.
Warm regards
gG
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