My ancestors climbed
Out of a tree
Rooted in the bodies
Of their families
I arrived here
By way of work
Under the table
Undocumented and illegal
From riots, tanks,
and massacre.
Banned books, state prison,
and whispers.
One side obliterated-
in trains to nowhere
And those weren’t even
the Jews.
Who had to fight
to earn
permission to live
anywhere they chose.
Overcame prejudice
to earn
degrees to teach
their oppressors.
No different from
The casual suffering
Of any other family
You know