Immigrant

The dark and moonless night at sea reflected well his mood, from where he stood out by the rail the ship seemed not to move. He was gazing far away into years gone by, where there resided youthful joy to recapture if he’d try. He wore a paper around his neck dangling on a string, three letters there made an acronym and such horror they did bring. Put there by an officer blue uniformed and stern, because he had no documents to his homeland…. he must return. Turned away the very day he landed on the island, destitute and paperless being denied asylum. He watched the statue fade astern after seeing her rise at dawn, a goddess from the sea of hope and all of his was gone. The tag he wore about his neck was his last and final doom, WOP spelled “none for me.” as he stood there in the gloom. “With Out Papers” the letters meant said the officer who put them on, America’s milk and honey was not for everyone. Hustled back aboard the ship without the means to pay, no bunk no cabin or meals to eat on deck all night and day. His homeland would not welcome him he was on the wrong side of their fight, dispossessed and on the run returning filled him with fright. With only one place left to go he was filled with true regret, but the decision was an easy one so over the side he leapt. His body washed up on the shore not uncommon for Ellis island, there he was buried for eternity finally finding his asylum.