Vijay Pandit Poet Free verse

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 April 17, 2020 at 12:43 AM Another favourite of mine, Vijay, Penned by you...So pleased to be reading it again...Stay Safe..Harry

Brandy Nicole January 6, 2019 at 9:51 PM Congratulations Vijay, on this win. Your thoughts tug deeply at my heart. ~ Brandy Vijay Pandit January 12, 2019 at 7:56 AM Thank you Brandy.

Heidi Sands January 5, 2019 at 8:15 PM Congratulations for your win Vijay! :) Vijay Pandit January 12, 2019 at 7:55 AM Thank you Heidi.

Edward Ibeh January 5, 2019 at 8:10 PM Thank you for taking part in my contest, Vijay!:-) Big congratulations on your win! A great poem! Vijay Pandit January 12, 2019 at 7:55 AM Thank you Edward.

Andrea Dietrich January 5, 2019 at 7:01 PM I see you won the Misery contest. Big congratulations to you. Vijay Pandit January 12, 2019 at 7:55 AM Thank you Andrea.

Line Gauthier January 5, 2019 at 6:52 PM Wow Vijay, a very compelling write. Congrats on your win with this very touching poem. Vijay Pandit January 12, 2019 at 7:55 AM Thank you Line.

Brandy Nicole January 2, 2019 at 10:02 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 January 3, 2019 at 7:33 AM So true..especially the kids. Many thanks Brandy for your visit and comments.

Jean Murray January 2, 2019 at 4:24 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 January 3, 2019 at 7:32 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 January 2, 2019 at 1:56 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 January 2, 2019 at 4:22 PM Thank you Connie..you are so right about the agony these kids are facing...many thanks for the kind remarks.

Harry Horsman January 2, 2019 at 10:43 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 January 2, 2019 at 1:36 PM Yes--it is all true. Many thanks Harry. Appreciate the kind remarks.

Supraja Kannan January 2, 2019 at 9:58 AM This is so deep, Vijay. Brought tears to my eyes... Painful and profound poetry... Happy New Year... Vijay Pandit January 2, 2019 at 1:35 PM Thank you Supraja..Happy New Year!

Demetrios Trifiatis January 2, 2019 at 2:38 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 January 2, 2019 at 7:25 AM Thank you my friend. Appreciate the kind feedback.

Andrea Dietrich January 1, 2019 at 6:13 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 January 2, 2019 at 7:24 AM Thank you Andrea. Appreciate the kind remarks.

Besma Riabi Dziri January 1, 2019 at 2:21 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 January 1, 2019 at 3:54 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 January 1, 2019 at 10:07 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 January 1, 2019 at 3:52 PM Thank you Lawrence. You are so right..many thanks for your visit and comments.

Nette Onclaud January 1, 2019 at 9:46 AM gut-wrenching tale of marginalized children who need more kindness than anyone else... splendid artpiece, vijay!.. happy 2019..huggs Vijay Pandit January 1, 2019 at 3:49 PM Happy New Year to you as well, Nette. Thank you for the visit and your comments.

Joseph May January 1, 2019 at 8:24 AM A sad story on the inhumane treatment these migrant children receive...Have a great New Year Vijay.. Vijay Pandit January 1, 2019 at 9:36 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 January 1, 2019 at 7:56 AM Very touching poem, Vijay:) wishing you a wonderful and a blessed New Year:) Vijay Pandit January 1, 2019 at 9:33 AM Happy New Year to you as well Jo. Thank you for the visit and comments.

Silent One January 1, 2019 at 7:21 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 January 1, 2019 at 9:33 AM So true. Many children in neighboring countries to the south of US are facing hardship. Many thanks SO.

Tom Cunningham January 1, 2019 at 1:46 AM You've. highlighted this sad story well Vijay. For many it will not be a happy new year . Tom. Vijay Pandit January 1, 2019 at 9:30 AM You are right Tom. Migrant children are facing hurdles..hopefully a resolution soon. Many thanks.

Heidi Sands December 31, 2018 at 5:49 PM A very sad story you have written so clearly about Vijay. Well done! :) Vijay Pandit January 1, 2019 at 9:29 AM Thank you Heidi..yes..it's a sad story dedicated to migrant children.