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In the Land of the Free

Escaping grinding poverty And violent crimes You left scant existence Holding your Dad's hand In the middle of the night Going on a long journey Dreaming of a free land Miles and miles you walked Learning for the first time Price of liberty is high As you trekked along More than thousand miles Exhausted by heat and humidity Hungry and thirsty you got But you didn't mind Marching for a cause Approaching the border Happily you sighed When strangers fed you Tortillas, beans, and rice But things soon changed As borders got closed Even for asylum claims Clueless of what that meant You sought refuge In your Dad's judgment Finding a way in Surrendering yourself As they took Dad away Without a hug or goodbye Ignoring your cries Being in detention now Affection you longed for Yet you carried on Searching grown up faces For any sign of Dad As days and weeks passed Till you lost your resolve When two kids in custody died Paying the ultimate price And yielding to anguish Relentlessly you cried Unable to think or breathe Wanting to scream loudly But choking on your grief No one has told you yet Your father's whereabouts As you wait and wait Learning day by day In the land of the free What misery feels like To a destitute child December 31, 2018 Placed 3rd..Misery poetry contest by Edward Ibeh

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Harry Horsman

Date: 4/17/2020 12:43:00 AM

Another favourite of mine, Vijay, Penned by you...So pleased to be reading it again...Stay Safe..Harry

Brandy Nicole

Date: 1/6/2019 9:51:00 PM

Congratulations Vijay, on this win. Your thoughts tug deeply at my heart. ~ Brandy

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/12/2019 7:56:00 AM

Thank you Brandy.

Heidi Sands

Date: 1/5/2019 8:15:00 PM

Congratulations for your win Vijay! :)

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/12/2019 7:55:00 AM

Thank you Heidi.

Edward Ibeh

Date: 1/5/2019 8:10:00 PM

Thank you for taking part in my contest, Vijay!:-) Big congratulations on your win! A great poem!

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/12/2019 7:55:00 AM

Thank you Edward.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 1/5/2019 7:01:00 PM

I see you won the Misery contest. Big congratulations to you.

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/12/2019 7:55:00 AM

Thank you Andrea.

Line Gauthier

Date: 1/5/2019 6:52:00 PM

Wow Vijay, a very compelling write. Congrats on your win with this very touching poem.

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/12/2019 7:55:00 AM

Thank you Line.

Brandy Nicole

Date: 1/2/2019 10:02:00 PM

It is painful reading these words of truth. No one should ever be in this situation. "In the land of the free" Not all have the chance to feel such freedom. It is very sad indeed. Your thoughts always move me. ~ Brandy

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/3/2019 7:33:00 AM

So true..especially the kids. Many thanks Brandy for your visit and comments.

Jean Murray

Date: 1/2/2019 4:24:00 PM

I recently read The Beekeeper of Sinjar and this brings it all back to me Vijay. Your poem's pain is so well documented in such a compact way. Poetry's gift to us.

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/3/2019 7:32:00 AM

I read a brief about the Yazidi men and women..indeed a tragedy. Thank you for mentioning the book. Thanks for your visit and comments. Always appreciate your kind remarks.

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 1/2/2019 1:56:00 PM

You captured the torture and anguish these poor children are going through being removed from their only source of security, their parents. When I watched children being abused on the news at these holding cells, which is what they really are, I was enraged! I hope this poem is a top winner Vijay. You couldn't have written it better! ; ) xxoo

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/2/2019 4:22:00 PM

Thank you Connie..you are so right about the agony these kids are facing...many thanks for the kind remarks.

Harry Horsman

Date: 1/2/2019 10:43:00 AM

You take the role, of the subject, and bring it through to the reader, with such emotion, and to know it is all true, makes the poetry even more emotional..A Fav

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/2/2019 1:36:00 PM

Yes--it is all true. Many thanks Harry. Appreciate the kind remarks.

Supraja Kannan

Date: 1/2/2019 9:58:00 AM

This is so deep, Vijay. Brought tears to my eyes... Painful and profound poetry... Happy New Year...

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/2/2019 1:35:00 PM

Thank you Supraja..Happy New Year!

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 1/2/2019 2:38:00 AM

You have depicted the situation in such a masterful way that one feels walking with these people! Unfortunately many people who have never been through such hardships in life can never understand! Superbly written dear, Vijay! Congratulations for your sensitivity!

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/2/2019 7:25:00 AM

Thank you my friend. Appreciate the kind feedback.

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 1/1/2019 6:13:00 PM

wow, you took THIS contest deep and dark, vijay. Very nicely told putting yourself in the place of a person close to this poor soul of misery,

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/2/2019 7:24:00 AM

Thank you Andrea. Appreciate the kind remarks.

Besma Riabi Dziri

Date: 1/1/2019 2:21:00 PM

So bitter is the taste of misery.. so costly is the dream land.. So painful to be deprived of parents' love and protection.. still, the beauty of penning the story remained unblackened.. a write that touches the depths of the heart as it genuinely depicts the sufferings of humanity.. My deepest regards dear Vijay. God bless you.

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/1/2019 3:54:00 PM

Yes--high price the children pay just because they were born in certain places. Many thanks for your detailed feedback. Appreciate your visit. Regards, Besma.

Lawrence Sharp

Date: 1/1/2019 10:07:00 AM

To echo Nette's point, the most crushed are also most vulnerable to further crushing. An important story, Vijay, to reach above and beyond any wall.

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/1/2019 3:52:00 PM

Thank you Lawrence. You are so right..many thanks for your visit and comments.

Nette Onclaud

Date: 1/1/2019 9:46:00 AM

gut-wrenching tale of marginalized children who need more kindness than anyone else... splendid artpiece, vijay!.. happy 2019..huggs

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/1/2019 3:49:00 PM

Happy New Year to you as well, Nette. Thank you for the visit and your comments.

Joseph May

Date: 1/1/2019 8:24:00 AM

A sad story on the inhumane treatment these migrant children receive...Have a great New Year Vijay..

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/1/2019 9:36:00 AM

Yes..you are right..this is a sad tale about migrant children. Many thanks for your comments. Happy New Year to you Joseph!

Joanna Daniel

Date: 1/1/2019 7:56:00 AM

Very touching poem, Vijay:) wishing you a wonderful and a blessed New Year:)

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/1/2019 9:33:00 AM

Happy New Year to you as well Jo. Thank you for the visit and comments.

Silent One

Date: 1/1/2019 7:21:00 AM

Brilliant poem my friend, how sad the world is where one child has luxurious gifts and a child in another part of the world wonders how he or she will eat... sad, sad world my friend... breaks my heart..

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/1/2019 9:33:00 AM

So true. Many children in neighboring countries to the south of US are facing hardship. Many thanks SO.

Tom Cunningham

Date: 1/1/2019 1:46:00 AM

You've. highlighted this sad story well Vijay. For many it will not be a happy new year . Tom.

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/1/2019 9:30:00 AM

You are right Tom. Migrant children are facing hurdles..hopefully a resolution soon. Many thanks.

Heidi Sands

Date: 12/31/2018 5:49:00 PM

A very sad story you have written so clearly about Vijay. Well done! :)

Vijay Pandit
Date: 1/1/2019 9:29:00 AM

Thank you Heidi..yes..it's a sad story dedicated to migrant children.