I AM.....Norman Bowker

I am the chord around his neck
I wonder about the hand that slipped beneath mine

I hear his heart beat without sound

I see the boots of lead sink in the field

I want this feeling to go as clouds go in their direction

I am the chord around his neck

I pretend to be a train and move on

I feel my mind going numb as the memories keep beating & beating in my head

I touch a current of crystals.....& for once feel in heaven

I worry thinking of the day his body will sit beneath the earth

I cry as I hear the bells ring

I am the chord around his neck

I understand two seasons of autum have passed by

I say my home town is an empty station

I dream my father's desires towards me will flow like singing notes

I try to make my life a colored jar

I hope I go without air & pay for my guilt

I am the chord around his neck

I AM POEM

I am the fog after crystal drops hit the grass

I wonder when that soft rosy hand will come and guide me towards the light

I see the shadows causing me sweaty hands & twitchy eyes

I want the orangy rays to come through those leaves and hit my autum eyes

I am the fog after crystal drops hit the grass

I pretend to know where the end of the road is...but I don't

I feel like that one dandelion in the monterous grass field

I touch rough rocks but want to fell the cotton pedals of roses

I worry about what obstacle will come next and pause my journey

I cry...... looking over my shoulder back at the predators whos desire was to burn my hopes...but I smile over those tears

I am the fog after crystal drops hit the grass

I understand my path but at times feel like a cub without his mother

I say "I'm a quiter"

I dream of being a raven.....holding my head way up high

I try to yell but the sound is like the size of an ant

I hope to find the end of the road with a smile on my face

I am the fog after crystal drops hit the grass

Far Away From You

Interview

Name: Maria and Pedro Huerta

Age: Maria-45 Pedro-47

Country of Origin:Mexico

Maria and Pedro came to America for one reason, for better jobs and to earn money. Pedro didn't want to come alone so he took her sister Maria. Pedro and Maria came at first walking throught the desert. It was hard because Maria wasn't use to running through hot, sunny humid deserts. It caused Maria to get pain killing aches on her stomach and throwing up. Along with killing aches came the exhausting feeling that goes through one's feet. She would have cuts and blisters in the end of every hot day. While Maria and Pedro would now have to wait until the border patrol finished their shift and in between the brake tried going over the border. They were lucky to get through by the first try and then they were to meet up with the "coyote". He took the people to his house and they were there for a couple of days until money was send to Mari adn Pedro to take an airplane to Chicago. The "coyote's" wife dressed up Mari and Pedro to fool migration on the airport and get through it easier. Both of them made it safe and now are struggling throuhg life by working long days in factories. Pedro works at a factory making granola bars but his earnings help him pay on time. But Maria is now on layoff and her husband is the only one in charge. His earnings help more than enough to get through but she wants to go back and work to have more money.