Unbroken
A Poem by Karen Crawford
There was a dream
a welcome
a torch
a flame
A yearning to breathe free
Now a mask of men in unmarked cars
willing to bend an arm
a knee
There’s a mission
should they choose to accept it
A price
should they choose to collect it
There’s a feast at a Mexican restaurant
after dinner they’ll raid it
There’s news coverage
there’s pressure
Without fear
Without favor?
Opinions first
Alternative facts later?
Snow
Whistles
Bounties?
Saviors
Where are you from?
Show me your papers
There’s a sweep
a goal
a quota
a spin
The worst of the worst
code for color of skin
Does it feel Pretti Good to commit cardinal sin?
Snap tackle pop
Tase for the win
Where’s your nurse at
your gardener
your nanny
your cook?
Going going gone
by hook or by crook
Their status unprotected
Greener pathways rejected
This land is not made for you
Just me
Maria
last seen at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary
Miguel
last seen in the parking lot of Home Depot
Yolanda
last seen Living Más at Taco Bell
Jose
last seen running from La Migra
Maria
Miguel
Yolanda
Jose
Say their names wear it out
Maria
Miguel
Yolanda
Jose
May God shed grace on thee
Maria
Miguel
Yolanda
Jose
Unbroken in the land of dreams
Karen Crawford is a writer, with Puerto Rican roots, who lives and writes in the City of Angels. Her work has been included in Best Microfiction 2025, Fictive Dream, Bending Genres, The Citron Review and elsewhere. You can find her on X @KarenCrawford_ and Bluesky @karenc.bsky.social.
Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution
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