Immigrant Poem by Randy McClave

Though I was not born in this country, I love it
This is the land that I now call home
To its laws and life and defense I will submit
From her I will never betray, or roam,
I am so happy and proud of this new freedom
I pledge allegiance and pride to the flag
I love this country, but not from ignorance, but wisdom
Like a proud father of my new country, I will brag,
I stand in the footsteps that brave men once stood
As they fought and died and even wept in prayer
They loved this country in awe and they too understood
That immigrants like them will also be standing there,
I see other men and some of them hate me
Just because I was not born in this great land
But all I want is to live and to be free
Pain and bigotry and hatred I will withstand,
I came to this country to build and not to destroy
I will always protect it, and from no one will I ever steal
I came here to live life and a freedom to enjoy
And only to GOD, and not man will I ever kneel,
I will respect any man’s religion and their way of life
I will always accept the way that any man wants to live
I bring both promise and hope and not a gun or a knife
And to my new country my honor and my pride I will give.
To this country without prejudice I have arrived
In my eye now it contains that one special gleam
I must seek and find that one great prize
As I now want to claim the American dream,
These might have been the words spoken by any man’s father
As they had seen this country for the very first time
A dream is a wish and to GOD it’s no bother
Freedom is a need, and a desire, and not a crime.