For he was a man who had left his

home and traveled miles to come and

live the American dream as they call it.

He brought with him a thick accent.

and a suitcase full of stories of trauma

to tell.

too many to fit in just one suitcase.

English wasn’t his first language but

survival surely was.

Hed often cry while alone, tears of

sadness worlds tumble out of the

heavy bags set underneath his eyes.

He was tired but couldn’t say it

silenced by the want to be strong

but broken by the need to be enough

for his little ones

He was an immigrant in his own life

a stranger who was last and couldn’t

find any directions.

He only knew how to survive but he

Never truly learned to live

He is my father

Whom I owe the world and beyond too .