A humble suggestion for the ICE authorities

Let’s make an honest woman
out of the Statue of Liberty,
so she is no longer
the hooker in the harbor.
Let’s sing not just “This Land is My Land,”
but also, “this Land is your Land”
and really mean it.

Let’s honor our own grandparents,
for all, except our indigenous neighbors,
are immigrants here.

Let’s grow compassion
that is not genetically modified
to bear fruit only for those
who look exactly like us,
for maybe then we will raise
compassionate children.

Let’s light a beacon of justice,
rather than become
globally notorious
for percentage of guns to population.

Let’s celebrate the food, dances,
and costumes of all the world,
traditions of faith, family and culture,
new words, that make language richer,
and new stories
that become plays and movies,
picture books in our schools,
novels of courage to stir our hearts.

Let us welcome new Americans –
and every one of us say,
“We live in a great neighborhood.”
(photo — Pam Spain)