Thirteen Ways to View Immigration
Poet Wallace Stevens wrote “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” as a way to examine and explore perspective, not just for a common bird but for people and issues alike. In the poem below, Val Lozano looks, wonders, and asks what are the different perspectives of immigrants.
I
A mother
Bearing three children
Seeks refuge
III
A son who needs to support his family
How will he get the funds
When will he send money home
III
A desire for a “better life”
Where will she accomplish this
IV
Her family is leaving
She doesn’t know how they’ll get there
She doesn’t know where they’ll go
But they are leaving
V
He tried to leave
He couldn’t
They caught him
Maybe next time
VI
Everyday is a constant worry
The stares
The whispers
The faces
Everyday
VII
I see the pain my parents go through
I see how much they miss it
I see how badly they want to go back
But they can’t
VIII
She’s one of the lucky ones
Blue eyes
Blonde hair
Pale skin
She got lucky
IX
My dad didn’t speak the language
My dad didn’t know the people
My dad didn’t know how he’d do it
But he made it happen
X
I know my dad misses his mother
I know he misses his family
I know he misses his home
XI
My mom remembers it all
The smell
The views
The people
All the time that passed
And she still remembers it clearly
XII
I will forever try my best at what I do
Not only just for me
But for the sacrifices my parents made for me
All their suffering didn’t go unrewarded
XIII
My dad will return one day
Not today
Not tomorrow
Not in a year
But he will
Wallace Stevens: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird Link
