At Last – A Dreamer’s Story
It was finally here and the magnitude of the moment had not been lost on me. Yes, I was nervous. Who wouldn’t be? It was not every day a woman like me, who had come from such humble beginnings, would now be standing here in these hallowed halls.
As I waited, a strange feeling came over me as if someone else was inhabiting my body. A weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I felt liberated and strong. The pit in my stomach magically disappeared and I felt the adrenaline rush of confidence.
I was meant to be here. It felt familiar and I knew somehow, inexplicably, that I had stood here in this same spot before. At this moment, reading what I have just written, I now believe my signature on this document gives me the freedom I have longed for.
Copyright © 2020 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing All Rights Reserved
Lillian is hosting Prosery Monday at D’Verse Poets and has prompted us with a line from Louise Gluck’s Faithful and Virtuous Night – reading what I have just written, I now believe. Prosery challenge is to write no more than 144 words, excluding the title, and use this line from the selected poem.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). In the US “Dreamer” describes a person who has lived in the US without official authorization since coming to the country as a minor. People of this description who met certain conditions would be eligible for a special immigration status under federal legislation first proposed in 2001. This is a controversial and politically charged subject and Trump has tried to reverse the Dream Act as part of his anti immigration agenda. However, late last Friday afternoon, a federal district judge ordered the Trump administration to fully reinstate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows nearly 700,000 undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children to live and work there. Courtesy of Vox
Photo courtesy of USA Today
Very cogent and compelling write, Christine!
Thanks dear Punam ☺️💕
My pleasure, dear. 💕
You have portrayed and presented the case of DACA with such palpable passion! 💝Love it 🙂
Thank you Sanaa. I’m happy you liked it 🥰
The saddest part of the Dreamers’ story is that the treatment they received in the US was better than what they were fleeing in their home country. People are so cruel to one another. I hope at least part of their dream comes true.
Thank you Jane. I agree totally. It is shameful what Trump has done and is still trying to do. They are still unable to reunite those babies and children who were separated from their parents almost two years ago. 😢
Shameful is the word 🙁
Beautiful – sometimes dreams do come true and human kindness wins out: a happy ending, which is great to read about right now!
Thank you Ingrid. I couldn’t agree more. These people should not be punished because of their heritage. ☺️💕
Fantastic use of the prompt.
Thank you! ☺️
You’re welcome 😉
You present the case of DACA well, and your story was a riveting read. Well penned.
Thanks you Bev. It is something I’m passionate about ☺️
A very good story! Very compelling!
Thanks Dwight. I had actually started to write this about something completely different for another Prosery and never did! It just fell into place with the quote today ☺️
Very nice!
It worked very well!
You’ve written in the first person, about the DACA….thus making it all the more real and powerful. I was thrilled with this judge’s ruling. I know it’s controversial, but to be considered for DACA, there are stringent requirements. Many of the Dreamers have been in the United States for 10, 12, 15 years and have gone to school and hold viable jobs. I am so glad the judge signed this!
Thank you Lillian . I too am an immigrant, but not a dreamer. I came here as an adult and went through the regular immigration channels. I was not a refugee and I was not fleeing a dictatorship. It was not easy and my heart goes out to every immigrant. They all deserve a shot at the “dream”. I am thrilled too at the judge’s decision and even more thrilled that Trump is out of here very soon. ☺️👍