first it was the former Yugoslavians
like Marko running with his family
to Canada
bullets ripping through his house
right over the dinner table
then Somalian teens
who'd never been to school
seeped in violence
bristling with anger
followed by Syrian girls
falling in boot sticking mud
and more zinging bullets
landing months later
in a gang riddled neighbourhood
new city - more guns
now a Ukrainian girl
she can speak three languages
but not English
she sits quietly in the back
sinking deeply into her desk
a sprinkling of Libyans, Lebanese,
West Africans, and Haitians...
for 75 minutes
we sit, laugh...even learn
binding us together bit by bit
in unconditional hospitality
The absolute sadness of the need for forced migrations :( I hope the children find some peace and safety where they have arrived - and can slowly rebuild their lives. Much respect for the unconditional hospitality.
ReplyDeleteThere are no barriers where love is the King and binds people together.
ReplyDeleteOh, to be welcoming. There is a tapestry within each person we sometimes fail to acknowledge or respect.
ReplyDeleteHow good that they find a peaceful haven in your classroom.
ReplyDeleteThe stories in that one room! Amazing the things people live through and how wonderful the shared laughter and friendship. They are lucky the Tired Monk is their teacher. You have a small United Nations in your classroom - with a very kind-hearted man as their guide.
ReplyDeleteYes kindness and acceptance is so important in our treatment of immigrants.
ReplyDeleteNicely penned. I'm a teacher too but mostly just single ethnicity students.
ReplyDeleteHow comforting your classroom must be.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great poem for our times. Out of turbulence , and fear, and anger, young people from different countries find humanity in a classroom.
ReplyDelete