Undocumented

By Beatriz Salcedo-Strumpf

They call you illegal
Criminal
Job thief
Low-life
They point at you
Because of the color of your skin
Because you don’t learn their language
Because you’re “the other”.
Did they already forget
that your ancestors lived
in the land they claimed?
Did they ever question:
Who gives us our daily bread?
Who takes care of your children?
Who does the dishes and cleans the houses?
Who cooks in the restaurants?
Who mows your lawn?
Who does all those chores
That no one wants to do
for the minimum wage?
The changing arbitrary laws
Open their arms!
If they need you
And condemn you
Step on youScorn you
Blame you
For all their problems
If the situation worsens
What hypocrisy!
Who benefits
From your work and denies
A piece of land?
Undocumented
You are not alone

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