Where the Heart Is

“…you must give this voice to me.” ~ Hans Christian Andersen, “The Little Mermaid” (1836) It’s never true immigration You’re in the homeland you carry inside This landscape isn’t so foreign Over it you seem to gracefully glide Everyone here is so awkward They’ll never fathom the pain that you hide Even as you long to tell them That tongue you left behind sure can’t confide How the witch of immigration Left no false hopes with you and never lied How the fine prince who you rescued Though he may feel your love, and though you’ve tried To let him know what he owes you How he’ll praise what’s the least effort beside With his eyes for his own people Your telling eyes say with whom he’d abide For there’s no true immigration As the sea bore you, in tears you’d have died If their salt water had let you Drying in air they take you for a ride For they can speak your own language That of the kind heart you carry inside ~ Thanks Always Returns